A 20-month dismissal was the last thing Leon Edwards wanted, but he could never have imagined that his long-awaited return to the UFC would end in a decision.
An accidental eyeball delivered by Edwards prevented Belal Muhammad from continuing. With designs to claim a win and then the challenge to tackle the welterweight title, Edwards was obviously crushed in the UFC Vegas 21 main event on Saturday night.
“Of course, that would have apologized to Belal Muhammad first,” Edwards said when speaking in the post-war program. “I came down for a long, long year and a half. I prepared so hard. This is disturbing. I wish him well, wish him complete recovery.
‘[I was] to fight the mentality of I wanted to fight next around the belt. So now I’m like what’s next? What do I do now? Is this a rematch? Is it someone else? I feel I deserve a title recording. ”
Before the halt, Edwards looked better than ever before as he paired with several stinging combinations while also opening a cut on the side of Muhammad’s head with a first kick. It seems that Edwards was really out to make a statement about his position in the division after he last competed in 2019, but then the look happens and the fight is stopped.
“I said I do not believe in ring rust,” Edwards said. “I believe if you prepare yourself properly, you will do well. I showed it tonight. I just got the power of it and that freak accident happened. I’m sad. A long year and a half to get back to this. This is disturbing.
“I felt like normal. All week I felt natural when I came to Vegas. It just felt normal like I was fighting last week. So I always approach it. Like I said: if you are properly prepared and mentally prepared in the gym, you should not feel rust. I was just starting the flow of it. I set him up for the cross kick, we shortened my crotch and so he caught with my hand. I apologize.”
Although it was an unfortunate ending, Edwards does not really see the need to re-examine the fight with Mohammed, despite the outcome.
In his mind, Muhammad was a late replacement in the main event after Khamzat Chimaev dropped out due to persistent issues due to the contracting of COVID-19 and the rest of the best at the top of the welterweight division did not accept the chance to put him in the to face. by UFC Vegas 21.
“I do not feel I have to fight him again,” Edwards said. ‘I only fought with him because all the other guys turned me down. The writing was on the wall. I clearly won the battle. And I do not feel that I have to fight with him again. I have to move forward.
‘I have a finish line of eight fights. This is the third most in the history of the promotion. It is me, [Kamaru] Usman and GSP (Georges St-Pierre). I feel like I deserved my way for a big fight. ”
Prior to the event, UFC President Dana White promised that an impressive victory for Edwards would lead to the title shot he had long sought.
The ruling casts doubt on the opportunity, but Edwards believes the outcome of the battle with Muhammad has already been determined in his favor, and it’s time for the title to be shot sooner rather than later.
The same can be said for Edwards’ interest in other rivals at £ 170, including former interim champion Colby Covington, who was initially set for the fight on Saturday night.
“It’s there. I can do it, but I belong in a title shot, “Edwards replied when asked about Covington.” I moved my way back from last time defeated by Kamaru Usman. I fought everyone. I offered to fight everyone.
‘I feel I deserve a title shot now. Why do I have to fight ten more battles to get a title? I believe I deserve a next title. ‘