Belal Muhammad replaces Khamzat Chimaev in fight against Leon Edwards

L. Edwards (left) and B. Muhammad (right) face each other on March 13th. Photo: Montage/SUPER FIGHTS

After having your fight against Khamzat Shimaev canceled for the third time, Leon edwards He already has his next opponent confirmed for the show on March 13, in Las Vegas (USA). According to 'ESPN', the UFC Belal Muhammad | He agreed to be the replacement for the Swede, who left the commitment due to the consequences of Covid-19 contracted in December. The information was released on Thursday afternoon (18) and made official by the protagonists on their social networks.

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“Respect for Belal for facing me when no one else wanted to. On March 13th, I will show that I am the best in the world”, published the Englishman.

Willing to make history and defeat one of the best representatives of the category in recent years, Muhammad also spoke out.

“No courage, no glory,” wrote Belal.

Current number 13 in the welterweight rankings (up to 77kg.), Muhammad performed last weekend, when he defeated Dhiego Lima on the preliminary card of UFC 258. With a month to prepare, the athlete would have accepted the challenge of fighting against one of the main names in the division.

Without fighting since 2019, Edwards' third position in the group was threatened by his inactivity in the organization. Having been out of action for more than a year and a half, the Englishman tried, unsuccessfully, to face off against members of the top 5, but was unsuccessful.

Today, Edwards owns one of the longest undefeated streaks in the category. The fighter has eight positive results in a row and has not lost since the meeting with the current champion, Kamaru UsmanIn 2015.

With four consecutive victories, Muhammad will have the most important fight of his career, to date, with UFC gloves. The fighter's last setback was in 2019, in the defeat to Geoff neal.

Five days removed from a win last weekend, Belal Muhammad | (@ bullyb170) has agreed to replace Khamzat Shimaev in a five-round main event against Leon edwards (@Leon_edwardsmma) on March 13 per sources … And if Edwards wins this, it's gotta be a title shot next, right? Gotta be. pic.twitter.com/tFM7KdhdAQ

- Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) February 18, 2021

 

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