Leon Edwards is acutely aware of the bold statements made by Belal Muhammad regarding their upcoming fight. Muhammad, who has labeled Edwards as an easy opponent and suggested he is Edwards’ “kryptonite,” has certainly made his views known.
Muhammad’s brash predictions, including walking through Edwards as if he were suffering from food poisoning, have reached Edwards and sparked a range of reactions.
Edwards is left pondering Muhammad’s motivations behind these claims. He questions whether Muhammad is merely trying to hype up the fight, boost his own confidence, or is genuinely out of touch with reality.
Edwards finds Muhammad’s dismissal of their previous encounter, which ended in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke, particularly baffling.
Reflecting on their first fight, Edwards feels that Muhammad’s portrayal of their bout as inconsequential is misguided. Edwards believes that their past encounter, limited to a single round and some change, offers enough insight into Muhammad’s style. He regards Muhammad as a fighter with slow movement and predictable patterns and views their upcoming rematch as a fresh start.
Since their initial clash, both fighters have evolved, and Edwards notes that he has faced tougher competition while defending his UFC welterweight title. In contrast, he feels that Muhammad has not faced younger, more challenging opponents in recent times. Muhammad, on the other hand, believes that his varied fight experience since their first meeting has significantly improved his skills.
Muhammad’s journey has been marked by a series of victories and a long wait for a title shot, adding to his eagerness to face Edwards. He relishes the opportunity to fight Edwards on a grand stage, contrasting it with their initial low-profile bout. Muhammad views this fight as a chance for a dramatic, high-stakes showdown.
Edwards views Muhammad’s outspoken confidence and criticism as a potential strategy to make up for perceived deficiencies in drawing power or personality.
Despite Muhammad’s claims, Edwards remains focused on the fight itself and is prepared to counter Muhammad’s talk with decisive action in the octagon. Edwards is confident that the outcome will vindicate his belief in his superiority, regardless of Muhammad’s pre-fight rhetoric.
