Leon Edwards has not competed in almost two years. Obviously, this was not the result he expected on his return.
Edwards accidentally hit Belal Muhammad in the right eye in the opening seconds of Saturday’s second round in the UFC Fight Night main event in Las Vegas. Muhammad fell immediately in pain and blood started to drain from his eyes.
The ring doctor entered the octagon and, shortly after, referee Herb Dean canceled the fight. The official result was judged as not disputed because of the nudge, with the fight ending at 18 seconds of the second round.
Edwards tried a combination, starting with a kick and ending with his left hand. But his hand was open on the punch and his fingers hit Muhammad’s right eye.
“I didn’t want to do that,” said Edwards in his post-fight interview. “I went for the cross kick. He got into it. I really do apologize. I prefer [have] a loss than that. I’m heartbroken. I do not know what to say.”
Edwards hasn’t fought since July 20, 2019, a 19-month period. The dismissal was due to COVID-19 blocks, canceled events and a positive test for his and his opponents’ coronaviruses. When he left the cage on Saturday, the incredibly unlucky Edwards said he only had questions for his team.
“And now?” Edwards said he asked them. “What do I do now? I went in focused on my next chapter to be the world champion … It was a long year and a half. To get back to that, it’s like …”
Edwards looked great in the first round. He landed a big kick to the head that opened a cut on Muhammad’s right ear. Edwards also hit some tough left hands and one-two combinations. Muhammad’s best hit was an elbow out of the clinch against the cage.
After the nudge, Muhammad was in pain and visibly moved, clearly wanting to continue, but unable to do so. His right eye was already swelling moments after the nudge. Entering, ESPN placed Edwards in fourth place in the world in the welterweight division.
UFC President Dana White said this week that if Edwards defeated Muhammad, he would be “100 percent” on the line for the title. This should be your chance to return to the division’s relevance after the long layoff.
UFC Fight Night happened with the COVID-19 protocols in force at UFC Apex, an installation in front of the promotion’s corporate campus.
Edwards (18-3, 1 NC) won eight straight fights on Saturday. His only defeat in the last seven years was against defending champion welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in 2015. Edwards, a 29-year-old Jamaican who fights in Birmingham, England, has victories over names like former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos , Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Vicente Luque.
“I managed to overcome the defeat of Kamaru Usman,” said Edwards. “I fought with everyone. I chose to fight with everyone. I believe I deserve a chance for the next title.”
Muhammad (18-3, 1 NC) was in a four-game winning streak. The Chicago native came from a unanimous decision victory over Dhiego Lima just 28 days ago and won the fight with three weeks ‘notice, after Khamzat Chimaev, Edwards’ original opponent, gave up due to COVID-19 health complications. long-standing.
Muhammad, 32, has only one defeat in his last 10 fights. Subsequently, he wrote on social media that his vision was returning and his eye had no permanent damage. He wants a rematch with Edwards.
“My heart is broken because my first main event ended like this, but God, the best of planners, I’m sorry to the fans and for the UFC, you deserved a complete fight,” Muhammad tweeted.