- Belal Muhammad doesn’t want to have a quick rematch with Leon Edwards
- “Remember The Name” agreed to face Shavkat Rakhmonov and also plans to move up to 185 in the future
Belal Muhammad is not willing to give Leon Edwards a quick rematch but is down to face Shavkat Rakhmonov as his first title challenger and even move up to middleweight to become a champ-champ.
Leon needs to wait
Speaking to the media following his decision win over Edwards at UFC 304, “Remember The Name” insists that “Rocky” will get his rematch but it’s not gonna happen right away. For Muhammad, Edwards doesn’t deserve to get an instant rematch and would have to earn a title shot.
“Yeah, I’ll give him a rematch in three years,” Muhammad said. “Let him work his way back up. I think it was a dominant fight. There’s really no need for a rematch and I don’t think he had that long reign of a champion where he’s entitled to a rematch. For me, I came to his hometown in front of his people and in enemy territory, so it was all a layup for him. But I blocked it.”
Belal Muhammad doesn’t think Leon Edwards deserves an instant rematch:
“Yea I’ll give him a rematch in 3 years. Let him work his way back up.”#UFC #MMA #UFC304 pic.twitter.com/aLE0NCepo8
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 28, 2024
Shavkat could have it
Shortly after becoming the new welterweight champ, Muhammad was called out by Rakhmonov. According to “Nomad,” Muhammad should keep his word this time and face him.
Congratulations on your well-deserved victory, @bullyb170! I hope you keep your word and defend your title against me when you’re ready, champ
— Shavkat “Nomad” Rakhmonov (@Rakhmonov1994) July 28, 2024
When asked about the subject, “Remember The Name” did not hesitate to answer and agreed. However, Muhammad also emphasized that he will not target any specific contender but will just be open to taking on the most deserving challenger.
“Yeah, of course,” Muhammad said of fighting Rakhmonov. “I’ve literally never turned down a fight. I’ve never backed down from anybody. I had so many people turn down fights against me so, now I’m at the top. I’m the man and for me, now it’s cementing my legacy as the best welterweight to ever do it.”
“I’m not going to sit there and call out these random guys and everything. Who’s next in line, who’s best in line. I’m going to show you who I am, what I can do. They thought Leon could walk through me, now I’m going to walk through all these other guys,” he continued.
Belal Muhammad responds to Shavkat Rakhmonov’s callout
“I’ve literally never turned down a fight… I’m not gonna sit there and call out these random guys.
Who’s next in line, who’s the best in line. I’m gonna show you what I am and what I can do.”#UFC #MMA #UFC304 pic.twitter.com/mLhYfVUG7a
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 28, 2024
185 is a future goal
Muhammad also expressed his desire to become a two-division champion by moving up to middleweight in the future.
“I wanna be the guy that did everything that you said I couldn’t do. Then if we go up, if, what’s his name? Dricus, still has the title, he beats [Israel] Adesanya, he was trying to talk tough to me. I’ll go smack him around, try to get two belts,” he revealed.
https://x.com/ChampRDS/status/1817454431144652909
Before dethroning Edwards, Muhammad won nine of his last 10 fights. His first match with “Rocky” ended in a No Contest due to eye pokes which makes the idea of a trilogy fight interesting. However, UFC president Dana White has already confirmed that Edwards vs. Muhammad 3 is not happening at this point.
