New UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad called himself the world’s best fighter after a dominant points win to dethrone Leon Edwards at UFC 304 at Manchester’s Co-Op Live.
Palestinian-American Muhammad has won 10 fights in five years, his only setback coming in a no-contest against Englishman Edwards in Las Vegas in 2021 because of an eye injury he suffered.
“I told you so,” Muhammad said after his surprise win. “My team and coaches believed in us.
10 IN A ROW FOR @BULLYB170 🚨
Belal Muhammad in the new KING 🏆#UFC304 PIC.TWITTER.COM/4NE8E7QYFM
— UFC (@ufc) JULY 28, 2024
“I don’t need the world to believe in me. We don’t need applause. We know how good we are and what we’re capable of doing.
“I know I’m the best fighter in the world. I just had to prove it. We just dominated the champion and made it look easy.”
Edwards vs Muhammad: ‘People laughed’
Muhammad had not convinced his critics when he talked up his chances and voiced his contempt for Edwards during the week.
“I want to be considered the best welterweight to ever do it,” he said. “People laughed at it when I said it the other day.
“I knew I had to back up the talk. I like trash-talking, I like going back and forth with somebody. If I dislike you, I fight better.”
A man of his word 👊#UFC304 | @BULLYB170 PIC.TWITTER.COM/RS8II4IDZ5
— UFC (@ufc) JULY 28, 2024
Aspinall vs Blaydes, Pimblett vs Green
Elsewhere on the card, there are suggestions that Tom Aspinall could face Jon Jones after needing a minute to knock out Curtis Blaydes.
Mancunian Aspinall had suffered a serious knee injury in the first round when the pair met in London in July 2022.
Paddy Pimblett scored an underdog victory over the significantly more experienced 15th-ranked lightweight Bobby Green with a first-round triangle choke submission.
Pimblett’s close friend and fellow Liverpudlian, Molly McCann, suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Bruna Brasil.
Tom has a message for Jon Jones 👀#UFC304 | @ASPINALLMMA PIC.TWITTER.COM/RFJE5FIFN1
— UFC (@ufc) JULY 28, 2024
UFC 304 results – Main Card
Belal Muhammad def. Leon Edwards via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
Tom Aspinall def. Curtis Blaydes via KO
Paddy Pimblett def. King Green via triangle choke submission (3:22 into round one)
Gregory Rodrigues def. Christian Leroy Duncan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Arnold Allen def. Giga Chikadze via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
UFC Manchester results – Prelims
Nathaniel Wood def. Daniel Pineda via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-28)
Bruna Brasil def. Molly McCann via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Jake Hadley def. Caolan Loughran via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Muhammad Mokaev def. Manel Kape via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Early Prelims results
Oban Elliott def. Preston Parsons via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Modestas Bukauskas def. Marcin Prachnio via arm-triangle choke (3:12 into round three)
Sam Patterson def. Kiefer Crosbie via arm-triangle choke (2:50 into round one)
Mick Parkin def. Lukasz Brzeski via TKO (3:22 into round one)
Shauna Bannon def. Alice Ardelean via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
