A 20-month layoff was the last thing Leon Edwards wanted, but he could never imagine that his long-awaited return to the UFC would end without a decision.
An accidental nudge in the eye by Edwards left Belal Muhammad unable to continue and the fight was interrupted by the ring doctor along with referee Herb Dean. With plans to win a victory and then go on to challenge for the welterweight title, Edwards was obviously devastated by the result on Saturday night at the UFC Vegas 21 main event.
“In the first place, obviously, it would be to apologize to Belal Muhammad,” said Edwards when speaking on the post-fight program. “I had a long, long year and a half for me. I prepared a lot. It is disturbing. I wish you all the best, I wish you a full recovery.
“[I was] going into the fight with the mentality that I wanted to fight for the belt next time. So now I’m like what comes next? What do I do now? Is it a rematch? Is another person? I feel like I deserve a chance for the title. “
Before the stoppage, Edwards looked better than ever, as he hit several painful combinations, while opening a cut on the side of Muhammad’s head, thanks to a kick in the first round. It looked like Edwards was really determined to make a statement about his position in the division after competing for the last time in 2019, but then the nudge happened and the fight was stopped.
“I said I don’t believe in rust,” said Edwards. “I believe that if you prepare properly, then you will be fine. I showed you tonight. I was just understanding the flow of it and that strange accident happened. I’m heartbroken. A long year and a half to get back to that. It is disturbing.
“I felt normal. All week, it felt natural when I came to Vegas. It looked normal as if it had fought last week. That’s how I always approach it. As I said, if you prepare properly at the gym and are mentally prepared, you shouldn’t feel rust. I was just getting into the flow of that. I set him up for the cross kick, we went in to shorten my cross and that was how he was caught with my hand. I apologize.”
Although it was an unfortunate ending, Edwards really sees no need to revisit the fight with Muhammad, despite the result.
In his mind, Muhammad was a late substitute in the main event after Khamzat Chimaev gave up due to prolonged problems with the signing of COVID-19 and the rest of the best at the top of the welterweight division did not accept the chance to face him. at UFC Vegas 21.
“I don’t feel like I need to fight him again,” said Edwards. “I only fought him because all the other guys rejected me. The writing was on the wall. I was clearly winning the fight. And I don’t feel like I need to fight him again. I need to move on.
“I am in a sequence of eight consecutive victories. It is the third largest in the history of promotion. It’s me, [Kamaru] Usman and GSP (Georges St-Pierre). I feel like I won my way to a big fight. “
Before the event, UFC President Dana White promised that an impressive victory for Edwards would result in the title race that he so longed for.
The lack of decision puts that opportunity in question, but Edwards believes that the outcome of the fight against Muhammad has already been determined in his favor and it is time to dispute the title now, and not later.
The same can be said of Edwards’ interest in other competitors for 170 pounds, including former interim champion Colby Covington, who initially was rumored to fight on Saturday night.
“This is there. I can do that, but I belong to a title shot, ”Edwards replied when asked about Covington. “I have worked my way back since the last defeat by Kamaru Usman. I fought with everyone. I volunteered to fight everyone.
“I feel like I deserve a shot at the title now. Why should I go 10 more fights to get a shot at the title? I believe I deserve a chance for the title to follow. “