- Belal Muhammad will be the backup for Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington at UFC 296
- “Remember The Name” claims “Rocky” never wanted to fight him again since their first meeting
Belal Muhammad has confirmed that he would be the backup for UFC 296 main event. He claims that the UFC knew Leon Edwards and Colby Covington are both capable of ducking at last minute.
Always ready
Speaking to MMA Junkie, “Remember The Name” revealed that the UFC has already made him the backup for Edwards vs. Covington. Muhammad also shared that it was something he has been looking forward to as he noticed that main events are being cancelled as of late.
“They just hit me up Friday, asked me if I’m willing to weigh in for next week,” Muhammad said. “I think obviously they know Colby and Leon are the two most inactive welterweights in the division. Neither of these guys likes to fight. They’re both good at running. So just to be on the safe side, they called the dude that always steps up whenever needed.”
“For me, I was like training this whole time regardless just in case something happened,” he continued. “The last two main events on the pay-per-views both got canceled, and since my last fight with Gilbert Burns, I took that one on short notice and I was like, ‘I never want to get out of shape like this again.’ Because I was so bad before that fight and it was the hardest fight cut ever. So I was like, I knew I had to be a professional from then on. Never getting big like that again. Just stay healthy, stay on the light side just in case something happened, I don’t want to have to wait last second.”
Leon needs to shut up
Edwards has recently questioned Muhammad’s case for a title shot but said he would be down to fight “Remember The Name” if he is the rightful challenger. Muhammad reacted to the champ’s comments and pointed out that “Rocky” needs to focus on beating Covington as he is already next in line regardless of anybody says.
Muhammad also claimed that Edwards has been avoiding him since the accidental eye poke in their showdown in 2021 that resulted in a No Contest.
“I’m not surprised you could look at the guy, he’s literally been running from me since the eye poke… Ever since then, he hasn’t want to get back in the cage with me,” Muhammad said of Edwards.
“Nobody in the division that deserves it more than me so he doesn’t make that choice. Dana has made that choice last fight before I fought Gilbert Burns, the winner of that fight was getting a number one contender fight so he needs to shut his mouth and just hopefully he beats Colby because that’s the one I want to freaking slap around but regardless I’m next in line no matter what,” he added.
Since the Edwards fight, Muhammad has been unbeaten in five consecutive fights. He has long been yearning for a title shot and he is finally getting it if things go south and Covington pulls out from UFC 296.
Check out Muhammad’s full interview below:
