Leon Edwards Opens As Big Betting Favorite Over Belal Muhammad

Edwards MuhammadLeon Edwards is unsurprisingly a big betting favorite over Belal Muhammad. Edwards was initially set to take on Khamzat Chimaev in a welterweight headliner on March 13. However, Chimaev had to pull out due to COVID-19 related issues as their fight was scrapped for the third time. Colby Covington was expected to fight Edwards on […]

Edwards Muhammad

Leon Edwards is unsurprisingly a big betting favorite over Belal Muhammad.

Edwards was initially set to take on Khamzat Chimaev in a welterweight headliner on March 13. However, Chimaev had to pull out due to COVID-19 related issues as their fight was scrapped for the third time.

Colby Covington was expected to fight Edwards on the card but didn’t seem to show any interest in the fight. In the end, Muhammad stepped up having only competed at UFC 258 this past weekend following an impressive unanimous decision win over Dhiego Lima.

But despite being on a four-fight winning streak, oddsmakers don’t have much confidence in Muhammad’s chances — especially on short notice.

BestFightOdds released opening odds for the fight and have Edwards as the -260 favorite. Muhammad, meanwhile, is a +200 underdog.

That means you would have to bet $260 to earn $100 on an Edwards win while a $100 bet on a Muhammad victory would earn $200.

Given where Edwards is in the rankings and the fighters that he has beaten, he was always going to be the favorite over Muhammad.

However, some may have expected him to be an even bigger favorite given the circumstances.

What do you think of these odds? Do they surprise you?

Report – Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad Headlines UFC Vegas 21 On March 13

EdwardsWith the withdrawal of streaking prospect, Khamzat Chimaev due to lingering health issues amid a positive COVID-19 test result, the #3 ranked Leon Edwards is set to remain on the UFC Vegas 21 card — drawing recent UFC 258 victor, Belal Muhammad in a reworked main event on March 13. Forced from two outings against […]

Edwards

With the withdrawal of streaking prospect, Khamzat Chimaev due to lingering health issues amid a positive COVID-19 test result, the #3 ranked Leon Edwards is set to remain on the UFC Vegas 21 card — drawing recent UFC 258 victor, Belal Muhammad in a reworked main event on March 13.

Forced from two outings against Edwards this year already, Chimaev, who is expected to travel to Las Vegas to receive treatment and medicine for his lingering lung issues — was slated to match with the Birmingham native at UFC Fight Island 7 in January, but failed to gain medical clearance to compete or prepare for the fight. 

Yet to feature since UFC Fight Night San Antonio in July of 2019 — Edwards notched his eighth consecutive triumph via a unanimous decision win over former lightweight champion, Rafael dos Anjos. Scheduled to headline a UFC Fight Night London card last March, the entire event was shelved amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, scrapping his tie with former champion, Tyron Woodley.

The victor of four on the trot, 32-year-old contender, Muhammad earned the #13 rank at 170-pounds via a one-sided unanimous judging win over Dhiego Lima last Saturday night at UFC 258 at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. News of the matchup was first penned by ESPN MMA reporter, Brett Okamoto

On the cusp of a title shot at welterweight, Team Renegade BJJ & MMA staple, Edwards is undefeated in the UFC since December of 2015 — where he dropped a UFC Fight Night Orlando unanimous decision to current champion, Kamaru Usman.

Scoring eight victories since, the 29-year-old scored wins over Dominic Waters, Albert Tumenov, Vicente Luque, Bryan Barberena, Peter Sobotta, Donald Cerrone, and Gunnar Nelson, prior to his judging win over the above mentioned former 155-pound kingpin, dos Anjos.

Enjoying a certain purple-patch of form, Muhammad scores his first headlining bout under the UFC’s banner — hoping to notch his fifth straight success and knock back the streaking, Edwards. 

A five-year, twelve-fight Octagon veteran, the Illinois native has amassed a 9-3 promotional résumé — dropping losses to common-foe, Luque, kickboxing talent, Geoff Neal, and Alan Jouban. As part of his current streak, Muhammad has bested Curtis Millender, Takashi Sato, Lyman Good, and the aforenoted, Lima. 

Edwards was initially linked with a title-eliminator against former interim titleholder, Colby Covington, however, the brash Californian put and end to those talks — claiming he wouldn’t do charity by accepting a short-notice bout against the #3 ranked contender. 

BREAKING: Belal Muhammad Steps Up To Headline March 13 Card Against Leon Edwards

Leon Edwards will headline the March 13 event after all. Edwards was supposed to face Khamzat Chimaev, but the Swede was forced out of the fight due to lingering effects of COVID-19. The Englishman called for fights with Colby Covington and Nate Diaz. …

Leon Edwards will headline the March 13 event after all. Edwards was supposed to face Khamzat Chimaev, but the Swede was forced out of the fight due to lingering effects of COVID-19. The Englishman called for fights with Colby Covington and Nate Diaz. However, according to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Edwards will now face Belal Muhammad. […]

Belal Muhammad Interested In Fighting Mike Perry As Both Fighters Lose Scheduled Opponents

Belal MuhammadBelal Muhammad is looking to explore new options after Sean Brady pulls out of their upcoming scheduled bout for December 19 due to injury. Taking to his podcast Remember The Show, Muhammad was joined by Jason Anik and Paul Felder who broke the news during a discussion the trio had. “Sean Brady pulled out guys […]

Belal Muhammad

Belal Muhammad is looking to explore new options after Sean Brady pulls out of their upcoming scheduled bout for December 19 due to injury.

Taking to his podcast Remember The Show, Muhammad was joined by Jason Anik and Paul Felder who broke the news during a discussion the trio had.

“Sean Brady pulled out guys so we are looking for a new opponent,” Muhammad said. “Hoping that Mike Perry takes this fight, he lost his opponent so hopefully we get that made.”

Muhammad is looking to remain on the event in December to be headlined by #3 ranked Welterweight Leon Edwards and rising undefeated prospect Khamzat Chimaev.

Earlier this week it was revealed Robbie Lawler was forced to pull out of his scheduled fight against Perry at UFC 255, following this Perry immediately called to face Chimaev at Middleweight in order to remain on the event. At this stage, it looks unlikely this will happen leaving the possibility open for Perry to face Muhammad on December 19.

While neither fighter is ranked was briefly ranked #15 at Welterweight while Edwards was temporarily removed from the rankings before losing his spot once Edwards returned. Muhammad has put together three straight wins most recently defeating Lyman Good in June.

Mike Perry recently came back from back to back loses to defeat Mickey Gall in June also. After this victory Perry would remain in headlines due to situations not directly relating to the UFC, however, he would be forced to undergo health evaluations before being cleared to fight again. Once cleared to fight he was shortly after booked to face Lawler.

With both guys being well-known contenders in the Welterweight division it is a strong possibility the pair face off against one another at some stage, for now, Muhammad shared they he will stay ready and await the call for his next matchup.

UFC on ESPN 11 Highlights: Belal Muhammad Outstrikes Lyman Good

Lyman Good vs. Belal Muhammad continued to the action.  The two fighters met in a welterweight bout on Saturday night (June 20, 2020) at the UFC on ESPN 11 event from Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC APEX. It was a good fight that saw it be a striking…

Lyman Good vs. Belal Muhammad continued to the action.  The two fighters met in a welterweight bout on Saturday night (June 20, 2020) at the UFC on ESPN 11 event from Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC APEX. It was a good fight that saw it be a striking fest with Muhammad circling and looking […]

The post UFC on ESPN 11 Highlights: Belal Muhammad Outstrikes Lyman Good appeared first on MMA News.

Belal Muhammad Edges Lyman Good – UFC Vegas 3 Results

Muhammad GoodNext up on the UFC Vegas 3 main card at the Apex facility is a welterweight contest between Belal Muhammad and Lyman Good. Round 1: Muhammad lands a big leg kick. Both start to swing near the fence. Good is the one advancing more with Muhammad circling around constantly. Muhammad lands a nice uppercut. He […]

Muhammad Good

Next up on the UFC Vegas 3 main card at the Apex facility is a welterweight contest between Belal Muhammad and Lyman Good.

Round 1: Muhammad lands a big leg kick. Both start to swing near the fence. Good is the one advancing more with Muhammad circling around constantly. Muhammad lands a nice uppercut. He lands a body kick soon after. Good blocks a head kick and lands a leg kick. Muhammad is using a lot of feints in this first round so far. He is also landing the cleaner shots despite being on the backfoot and also has the significant strike advantage. The round comes to an end.

Round 2: The second round continues with striking. Muhammad shows good movement and lands a takedown soon after but Good gets up right away and is clinched up against the fence. They separate and return to striking. Good lands a nice right hand after seeing his head kick blocked. Muhammad partially lands a head kick. Muhammad lands a nice one two as Good is struggling to land consistently. They exchange in a flurry. Muhammad lands a hard body kick. He follows it up with a leg kick. Good goes swinging and connects with more than one punch but Muhammad seems to be fine. Good blocks a spinning backfist.

Round 3: The pair return to striking. However, Good is having more success and manages to rock Muhammad before dropping him soon after. Muhammad defends by attempting a takedown but is unable to land it. They separate as Good looks to go for the finish. Good is looking more confident and loose now. Muhammad lands a nice knee to the belly and lands a takedown. Good gets up to his feet but Muhammad has his back. They separate and return to striking for the final minute of the fight. Muhammad times a takedown well and has Good’s back again with the body triangle locked in. He looks for the rear naked choke but the fight comes to an end.

Official result: Belal Muhammad defeats Lyman Good via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).