Belal Muhammad criticizes the lackluster performance of Colby Covington and Leon Edwards at UFC 296, feels he deserves the next welterweight title shot, and vows to revitalize the division with his fighting style.
Belal Muhammad felt it in his gut. He was certain he should’ve been the one in the octagon at UFC 296, vying for the welterweight crown. But fate had other plans. It was Colby Covington, not Muhammad, who stepped up for his third title shot against Leon Edwards that Saturday night.
The fight? Well, it was a bit of a snooze-fest, courtesy of Covington. He barely threw a punch until a last-ditch takedown in the fifth. Edwards, on the other hand, was in control. He even flipped the script, taking Covington down and cruising to a unanimous decision win.
Muhammad didn’t mince words about the outcome. He saw the welterweight division as the real loser after such a dismal performance from both the champ and the top contender. “Honestly, it was a joke to the division,” Muhammad declared on the UFC 296 post-fight show. Covington, the “bum off the couch,” didn’t live up to his own hype. And Edwards? Muhammad thought he should’ve crushed him, not just played it safe.
Muhammad’s on fire, with a 10-fight unbeaten streak. After dispatching Gilbert Burns in May, he seemed destined for a title shot. But Dana White, UFC’s head honcho, had already handed that chance to Covington. So, Muhammad watched from the sidelines as Covington and Edwards headlined the year’s final pay-per-view.
Covington’s effort was underwhelming, to say the least. But Muhammad? He’s itching to show what he’s made of. “I’m going to be in his face,” he vowed. “I’m going to make him bleed. I’m going to make him breathe hard.” He’s ready to dominate, to bully Edwards in the cage.
Patience is wearing thin for Muhammad. He’s eager to step up and prove his worth against Edwards. And he’s not looking to wait around. Edwards emerged unscathed from his bout with Covington, so Muhammad’s message is clear: “I’m ready.”
He’s game for a fight on any notice. “You can call me on a week’s notice, I’m ready to go,” he asserted. All he wants is that title shot, echoing the words of the legendary Georges St-Pierre: “Dana, please give me my shot!”