Leon Edwards weighs in for his fight again Rafael dos Anjos in July 2019. Image Credit: Getty Images
Leon Edwards promising a finish of Belal Muhammad at UFC Vegas 21
UFC welterweight Leon Edwards is promising a finish over durable opponent Belal Muhammad in the main event of this Saturday’s UFC Vegas 21.
Edwards returns to the Octagon for the first time since a unanimous decision win over Rafael dos Anjos in July 2019. The year 2020 was a complete write off for Edwards, who had several fights against both Tyron Woodley and Khamzat Chimaev fall through due to COVID-19 related issues. It’s now March 2021 and Edwards is finally ready to step back in the cage and defend his No. 3 ranked in the UFC welterweight division. With an eight-fight win streak at the moment and a 10-2 overall record in the UFC, a win over Muhammad would help remind the fans who he is after so much time away from the Octagon, as well as strengthen his argument that he should be next for the belt.
Speaking to MMA News’ James Lynch, Edwards said that he’s excited to step back in the cage this weekend against Muhammad, and he’s promising the fans that his experience in five-round main events will lead to a finish.
"I'm going in there aggressive, focussed, and looking to put him away" 👊
Leon Edwards (@Leon_edwardsmma) previewed his fight against Belal Muhammad this Saturday at #UFCVegas21
Full interview via @mmanews_com https://t.co/MA7IY69xD9 pic.twitter.com/ZYS2TXmJQy
— James Lynch (@LynchOnSports) March 9, 2021
“This is my third five-round main event, this is my third (UFC) main event, so I’ve been five rounds multiple times. This is Belal’s first one, you know what I mean? I’m going in there to put him away. I don’t feel going in there and edging a decision would prove my case for a title shot. So I’m going in there aggressive, focused, and to put him away and to hurt him, and that’s it. I want to finish him,” Edwards said.
Edwards believes that the fact Muhammad hasn’t gone the full five rounds in the UFC before is going to be a huge advantage for himself because he knows what it takes to go 25 minutes in the Octagon and keep up a hard pace in the fourth and fifth rounds of the fight.
“I believe it plays a massive role in the fight. Especially if he’s trying to push that pace, you have to be able to keep that pace for five rounds. You can’t push it for one or two then slow down for three, four, and five. It’s a different-paced fight, it’s a different style of fight, and like I said, I’ve done it multiple times. I’ve trained d trained for five rounds six or seven times because I’ve been the main event six or seven times. I’m focused and ready and we’ll see come Saturday,” Edwards said.
Do you think Leon Edwards will beat Belal Muhammad?
