It appears that Belal
Muhammad will be fine after an eye poke prematurely ended his
night against Leon
Edwards, but the harsh feelings toward his opponent may have
only just begun.
Muhammad was unable to continue just 18 seconds into Round 2 of the
Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 187 headliner at the UFC Apex in Las
Vegas, when Edwards’ inadvertent foul left him visibly distressed
and in considerable pain. Though the scene initially seemed to be
dire, “Remember the Name” later provided an update of a more
positive nature.
“My heart is shattered my first main event ended like that, but
God’s the best of planners,” he wrote. “I’m sorry to the fans and
the [UFC], you deserved a full fight .. Alhamdillah the vision is
coming back and no permanent damage to the eye. I’ll be back and
want to run it back.”
My heart is shattered my first main event
ended like that but Gods the best of planners im sorry to the fans
and the @ufc you deserved
a full fight.. Alhamdillah the vision is coming back and no
permanent damage to the eye I’ll be back and want to run it back
@Leon_edwardsmma
pic.twitter.com/5xsvhmZ5Uh— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170)
March 14, 2021
The first round belonged to Edwards, as he outlanded Muhammad by a
19-to-8 count in significant strikes and briefly wobbled his
opponent with a head kick. However, there was much to be decided in
a five-round fight, which is why Edwards’
dismissal of a rematch in the post-fight media rounds has drawn
Muhammad’s ire.
“Never saw someone act so tough after poking someone in the eye,”
Muhammad wrote. “The fight was just getting [going] and if [you’re]
satisfied to end it on that note [you’re] soft. You ain’t getting a
title fight off that. I took the fight on [three week’s] notice and
came to fight, run it back.”
Never saw someone act so tough after poking
someone in the eye the fight was just getting goin and if your
satisfied to end it on that note your soft you ain’t getting a
title fight off that I took the fight on 3 week notice and came to
fight run it back @ufc— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170)
March 14, 2021
While Edwards entered the matchup on an eight-fight winning streak
with title aspirations, Muhammad has quietly compiled an impressive
record himself, with victories in eight of his last nine Octagon
appearances prior to Saturday night. It’s currently unclear if the
UFC plans to rebook Edwards and Muhammad at a future event.