Leon Edwards secured a win over Covington in a rather uneventful 25-minute match, without any controversial moments. Despite Covington’s pre-fight comments, he accepted his defeat gracefully.
However, the surprising moment of the night was Edwards’ refusal to consider Belal Muhammad as the next title challenger, following his victory over Covington.
After a less thrilling fight with Covington, Muhammad’s (23-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) prospects as the next title contender are the most promising for entertaining the audience. However, Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) dismissed the idea, claiming that Muhammad hasn’t achieved a 10-fight unbeaten record.
“I don’t think Belal should be next.”
Leon Edwards says Belal Muhammad should not be able to ‘skip the line’ for title fights after fight #UFC296 win. pic.twitter.com/iz3iydwenu
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) December 17, 2023
Despite being a controversial figure, Muhammad has rightfully earned the chance to vie for the title. His history with Edwards, including a March 2021 match that resulted in a no-contest due to an eye poke, makes their potential rematch a compelling prospect based on skill and prior interactions.
Edwards claimed that Muhammad would be cutting the line for a title shot, but this viewpoint lacks validity. As of now, Rakhmonov’s achievements are commendable, but his resume doesn’t carry the same weight as Muhammad’s, a fact that cannot be overlooked.
For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s UFC 296 event hub.
