UFC 304,marked a significant milestone in the welterweight division as Belal Muhammad secured the championship title after a decisive victory over Leon Edwards. This matchup was highly anticipated, given both fighters' trajectories in the sport and their previous encounters. Muhammad's performance at UFC 304 not only demonstrated his technical prowess but also highlighted his strategic acumen within the octagon.
From the outset of the fight, Muhammad exhibited a well-rounded skill set that effectively neutralized Edwards’ striking capabilities. Utilizing a mix of wrestling and striking techniques, he maintained control throughout all five rounds. His ability to adapt to Edwards’ game plan was particularly noteworthy; Muhammad consistently pressured Edwards with aggressive takedown attempts and effective striking combinations. This multifaceted approach ultimately limited Edwards' offensive output and prevented him from establishing his rhythm.
Welterweight champion Leon Edwards met second-ranked contender Belal Muhammad again after their previous engagement on a Fight Night show three years ago was halted early in the second round when Muhammad was injured by an inadvertent eye poke.
Edwards won his belt from Kamaru Usman 17 months later and had since defended twice while Muhammad had won five straight since and nine in a row overall minus the no-contest.
It's a similar story in the co-main, where interim heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall faced fourth-ranked Curtis Blaydes two years and four days after a knee injury forced him out of their first bout after just 15 seconds.
The fight was a rematch of their first fight, which ended in a no-contest after an accidental eye poke. Both fighters were riding massive win streaks and their rematch had been highly anticipated.
In the co-main event, the interim heavyweight title was on the line when Tom Aspinall defended against Curtis Blaydes. Aspinall finished Curtis in just 60 seconds of their fight, also a rematch. Aspinall and Blaydes previously fought in 2022 but that fight ended in just 15 seconds fight due to a freak injury.
Indeed, Pimblett is all but guaranteed a number when updated rankings come out on Monday, and, alongside an emotional message to the family of a young fan who recently succumbed to cancer, he had a specific name when it comes to who's got next.
"(Tenth-ranked) Renato Moicano," he said. "That's the fight I want. Hopefully we can get it done before the end of the year or early in the new year."
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