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For Belal Muhammad, things have gotten personal with Leon Edwards.

For nearly a year, Muhammad has been the presumptive next title challenger for Edwards’ UFC welterweight championship, but the fight has yet to be made as Edwards first dealt with former interim champion Colby Covington. But as 2024 drags on and there’s still no sign of a title fight in Muhammad’s future, “Remember the Name” believes that’s a sign that Edwards does not want the smoke with him.

“When you have all of these guys talking for you, that just tells me you’re that coward that’s hiding behind them,” Muhammad told MiddleEasy.

“You’re the champion of the world. If you’re the best fighter in the world, fight the best guy in the division that’s right behind you. I have the longest winning streak in the division. I’m the one beating all these guys. … I know I’m the best in the world, and he knows I’m the best in the world. That’s why he’s trying to avoid this fight, because I’m the toughest matchup for him. He’s trying to do anything he can do to hold onto the belt as long as possible.”

Tensions have been high between Muhammad and Edwards for years, dating back to their first fight in in 2021 that ended by no-contest after Edwards inadvertently poked Muhammad in the eye and he was unable to continue. Afterward, Muhammad wanted to run things back, but Edwards dismissed the idea in pursuit of other matchups. And now as Edwards continues to downplay him as a title challenger, it’s really cementing Muhammad’s feelings on the welterweight champion.

“I hate his guts,” Muhammad said. “The last fighter I fought that I had dislike for was Sean Brady. That was just because he was talking all this trash. … For the Leon fight, they’re trying to avoid me. Him trying to act like — downplaying my accomplishments and telling me I don’t deserve it, I never earned it, that stuff does nothing but piss me off. It’s fueling me with hatred for this guy, and I just can’t wait to get in there and get my hands on him.

“My last four or five fights have been against guys that are so nice. Demian Maia, Wonderboy, [Vicente] Luque, they’re all nice guys. Obviously, getting extra motivation to fight guys that you dislike, it’s easier. For those guys, it’s a little bit harder. But for Leon Edwards, I’ve been training for this guy for two years. My prime focus has been on him. I’ve been thinking about nobody but him. And when I go through him, he’s going to go back to irrelevancy and nobody is going to think about him anymore.”

Of course, it might not be Edwards who is preventing the fight from happening. UFC CEO Dana White announced that a welterweight title defense was one of the options to headline UFC 300, however the three fighters they proposed for Edwards all fell through for various reasons. Muhammad, famously, was not one of those three challengers. Ultimately none of those proposed fights happened though and Muhammad says that’s because that was just promotional smoke and mirrors.

“People can say whatever they want,” Muhammad said. “They can say, ‘Oh, well Dana said he offered the fight to three other people!’ None of them fought, right? I think it’s more Dana White trying to hype up a champion that can’t hype up himself. Dana White, being the promoter he is, has to make it seem like, ‘Leon Edwards, this beast, said yes to three dominant guys and they all turned it down because they’re afraid of him because Leon is so good!’ But Leon sucks. He sucks at fighting, he sucks at talking, he sucks at promotion. And when I fight him, I’m going to show you guys how bad he is.”

Muhammad may end up getting his shot. UFC 304 is rumored to take place in Manchester, England this July, with an Edwards title defense allegedly planned for the main event. As the No. 2 contender in the UFC welterweight rankings, Muhammad appears to have the inside track should that come to pass, and if so, he’s ready to head across the pond to finally settle up with Edwards.

“One hundred percent,” Muhammad said of fighting in England.

“Me going out there, taking his home soil, beating him in front of that crowd over there would be amazing. I went to London for a UFC event once and the crowd energy was nuts. I was like, bro, I’ve got to fight here. Fans were crazy. They were there from the first fight on, and you feel it in the air when you’re over there. So for me to be able to go down there, people are just going to doubt me even more, and that doubt does nothing but fuel me, so that would be the fairy tale ending to my story to get this belt.”

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Aljamain Sterling chose one heck of a day to become a UFC featherweight.

After a decorated nine-year run as one of the best bantamweights in the UFC, Sterling made his 145-pound debut at UFC 300, dominating Calvin Kattar for a pillar-to-post decision win. Sterling hoped a successful night would propel him to the front of the line for title contention in his new division, but then former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway went out and posted the highlight of the year with his spectacular last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje to capture the promotion’s ceremonial BMF title.

Holloway is now a top contender in both the featherweight and lightweight divisions, and Sterling can’t help but give credit where credit is due.

“I was like, ‘Justin, go the other way! Justin, don’t go to the center! Whatever you do, don’t go to the center,’” Sterling said with a laugh on The MMA Hour. “No, but man, that was insane. I thought Max was winning the fight, and for him to even say, ‘Eff it. UFC 300. Let’s go,’ and to do that — that’s a lot to risk with a guy who hits as hard as Gaethje, and for him to get the better of that exchange was very unexpected. I said in my breakdown that I just felt like Holloway would have the speed advantage, but the guy who hits like the truck is going to be Gaethje, and the volume was going to be on the advantage side of Holloway.

“[But] clean right on the chin, and man, that was as beautiful of an overhand right that you can land tight in the pocket like that. And unfortunately Gaethje had to eat that, and that’s the game, man. The pictures of that, those are going to be some legendary iconic photos. Like, I know what that feels like to kind of be that man face-down, so that sucks, and hopefully Gaethje is OK now. And I’m fans of both of those guys, but that was badass. And now hopefully, Max, stay your ass at 155! We don’t want you back down here!”

With a title shot now unlikely, Sterling, 34, instead pivoted to a potential matchup against Brian Ortega in his post-fight dialogues, though he entertained the idea of a grappler vs. grappler matchup against Movsar Evloev as well.

As for Holloway, the former featherweight champion isn’t paying much attention to Sterling’s advice. In the days since UFC 300, “Blessed” has repeatedly called for a matchup with Ilia Topuria, and even traded shots with the UFC featherweight champ in both interviews and on social media. It’s a fight that Sterling finds deeply intriguing.

“I think it’s a very compelling fight,” Sterling said. “I think Max’s footwork is what makes him a tricky opponent. Styles make fights. Max has got a hell of a chin. Ilia can crack. But the thing is, Ilia just walks you down, right? And this is just my assessment. He walks you down until he gets you close enough to the cage, and then he lets go with that combination and he puts guys out. It’s whether or not he could do that to Max, and will Max sit there and try to exchange with him against the cage where Ilia does his best work — and I think that’s the interesting dynamic of that fight, and to kind of see which way he’s going to go.

“I don’t know [who I’m going to pick to win]. It’s hard for me to say because I think if Ilia’s smart and the striking doesn’t work out, he goes and takes Max Holloway down, uses that elite-level grappling, and that can be the difference in the fight.”

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King Ry!
| BJPenn.com

“The King” isn’t interested in “Tank.”

Ryan Garcia turned the boxing world upside down last night (Sat., April 20, 2024) when he shocked the previous undefeated Devin Haney by defeating him via a majority decision from inside Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York (watch highlights!).

After the fight, during the post-fight press conference, Garcia was asked if he was interested in rematching Gervonta “Tank” Davis, the only person to defeat him.

“I don’t think Tank is going to beat Frank Martin, but if he did, he wouldn’t fight me because I’m moving up. I’m not doing 140 lbs, I’m doing 147 lbs. I can’t make 140,” Garcia said. “I technically next fought at 140. I fought every time at 143. My body literally cannot go lower than 143; it’s impossible. I tried every technique, I can’t do it.”

Garcia’s promoter, Oscar Del La Hoya, added, “The only way he’s going to fight Tank Davis is at a catchweight. Okay? At 145 lbs. Just the way they did it to him. Now he’s the man. Now, he’s the face of boxing. Come on now.”

Garcia concluded with, “I am the face of boxing. Confidently, I know I am.”

Davis vs. Garcia was a blockbuster super fight in 2023, raking in 1.2 million pay-per-view buys. However, the fight came with some controversy regarding the contracted weight and 10 lb dehydration clause.

Garcia revealed he felt weak during the fight but never used the dehydration clause as an excuse because ‘he signed the contract.’ Nevertheless, a vicious body shot stopped Garcia in the second round (watch it).

While a rematch between the two would be epic, Garcia has several options for his next opponent.

For complete Haney vs. Garcia results, coverage and highlights click HERE.

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Ryan Garcia feels he should’ve knocked out Devin Haney rather than just beaten him by majority decision, but he puts at least part of the blame on referee Harvey Dock.

While he certainly didn’t complain about getting the nod, and handing Haney the first loss of his professional career, Garcia acknowledged that a finish would’ve been that much sweeter. He set the tone with a huge left hook in the opening round that rattled Haney, but Garcia really took over with a trio of knockdowns that effectively won him the fight.

The first knockdown came in the seventh round, but the advantage on the scorecards was almost immediately negated when Dock paused the action and deducted a point from Garcia for punching after he demanded a break. Instead of being penalized, Garcia feels like he should have been allowed to continue until he put Haney down for good.

“At the end of the day, Harvey Dock, I think he was tripping,” Garcia said post-fight. “He should have stopped that fight. It was bad. [Haney] was really hurt. I felt bad. I even looked at Bill [Haney], I said, ‘Bro, you should probably stop this.’ He didn’t and that’s it.

“The guy was holding me for dear life. I felt an opportunity to keep swinging while my hands were free and I cracked him, and then [Dock] took a point away when I cracked him. But he held me. I should have knocked him out in that seventh round. They stole that from me.”

Even in the moment, Garcia admits he was confused by the referee’s actions.

“That was crazy,” Garcia said. “I never seen some s*** like that. He was holding him and I [punched] him and he was hurt and I was like, ‘Yes! Done! Oh, point taken?’”

Despite the penalty, Garcia continued to pour on the punishment with two more knockdowns in the 10th and 11th rounds that won him the fight.

Thinking back on his performance, Garcia believes he could’ve done even better, but he had a singular purpose to put Haney away and it actually cost him.

“Is this going to be the moment I stop him?” Garcia said of his first thought after dropping Haney in the seventh round. “That’s just all I was thinking. I shouldn’t have put too much pressure on myself to stop him. Because every time I hurt him, I just went crazy. I just couldn’t finish him.

“I was surprised he had such heart and recovery. I cracked him in that first round, I thought it was over. I’m like I won. Easy work. Then he came out firing in the second. He even hurt me with the hook. I was like, damn, maybe he do got a little bit of power.”

Garcia walked into the fight as a massive underdog, with some sportsbooks listing Haney as high as an 8-to-1 favorite to win, but that’s not how things played out on Saturday.

Immediately after the fight, Garcia mentioned he’d gladly accept a rematch, and Haney later said the same after suffering the first defeat of his career.

Once the action cooled down, however, Garcia acknowledged that his body went through a lot in his attempt to get down to 140 pounds for the fight. In the end, Garcia actually missed weight by 3.2 pounds, but the bout still moved forward as scheduled.

With this fight behind him, Garcia isn’t even contemplating another attempt to get down to 140 pounds, and he doubts Haney will pack on enough weight to pursue a rematch with him again. The same goes for Gervonta Davis, who handed Garcia the only loss of his career when Garcia made the ill-fated decision to go all the way down to 136 pounds to face “Tank,” ultimately getting finished with a brutal body shot in the seventh round.

“I don’t think Tank’s going to beat Frank Martin, but if he did, he wouldn’t fight me because I’m moving up,” Garcia said. “I’m not doing 140. I’m going 147. I can’t make f****** 140. I never even technically fought at 140. I fought every time at 143. My body can’t literally go lower than 143. It’s impossible. I tried every technique. Can’t do it.”

With plans to go up in weight, Garcia had at least one name in mind for a future opponent, although he’s not cemented on anything just yet.

“I had a vision to fight [Sebastian] Fundura at 154 [pounds],” Garcia said. “I don’t know why, I just feel I could knock him out. I know that’s really, really random. I just feel like I could get the title at 154.

“I fought guys that big before and I’ve knocked them out in sparring. Cold, slept them. I want to do it. Shout out Fundura, no disrespect.”

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Watch Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney full fight video highlights from the Haney vs. Garcia main event, courtesy of the DAZN and other outlets.

Haney vs. Garcia took place April 20 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. WBC super lightweight champion Haney (31-1, 15 KOs) faced off against Ryan Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) in the night’s much-anticipated main event. The fight aired live on DAZN and PPV.com.

Catch Haney vs. Garcia video highlights below.

For more on Haney vs. Garcia, check out the live blog from MMA Fighting’s Alexander K. Lee.

Round 1: The larger Garcia immediately takes center. Haney working to prevent the ring from being cut off. Garcia throwing big punches as Haney circles way. A left hand hurts Haney! Haney quick to clinch. Let’s see if he’s recovered. More power punches from Garcia. Haney in survival mode early. Another clinch and the pace has finally slowed. Haney resets and looks for his jab. Jab to the body by Haney. He rebounded nicely in the second half of the round, but what a start by Garcia.

MMA Fighting scores the round, 10-9 Garcia.

Round 2: Haney first to the punch this time. He’s determined not to let Garcia set the tone this time. Quick punches up top by Haney. His jab is on the money. Glancing right hand by Haney. Garcia not throwing much, just waiting for the right time to let loose with a power shot. Right hand by Haney, then another. Garcia has tied Haney up a couple of times, but other than that not much shown by him this round.

MMA Fighting scores the round, 10-9 Haney. Overall, 19-19.

Round 3: Overhand right by Haney scores. Garcia hunting with that left hand, but Haney is getting under it now. There’s a left from Haney that backs Garcia up. They grapple and Garcia complains of a low blow on the break. Lightning fast jab from Haney. Garcia is just missing now. Left hand from Haney causes a Garcia stumble and Garcia looks MAD. Haney in control.

MMA Fighting scores the round, 10-9 Haney. Overall, 29-28 Haney.

Round 4: Haney’s feints have Garcia completely out of sorts. Haney with a body shot. That Haney jab is giving Garcia all kinds of problems. Left hand cracks Garcia. There’s a solid right by Garcia. Lots of clinching between these big moments. Haney jabs the body. Garcia circling and circling and circling. Another jab to the body from Haney.

MMA Fighting scores the round, 10-9 Haney. Overall, 39-37 Haney.

Round 5: Haney ducking all of Garcia’s heavy combos. Crisp body shot by Haney. He’s content to jab away at the midsection until Garcia comes to him. Garcia walks right into a counter right. Haney is owning the center of the ring. He has his right hand cocked and Garcia is completely frozen. Jeers from the crowd. Haney goes for a haymaker right, but Garcia just ties him up. Left hook for Haney.

MMA Fighting scores the round, 10-9 Haney. Overall, 49-46 Haney.

Round 6: Garcia showing signs of life. He lands about one good shot in the middle of a wild flurry, but that definitely woke the crowd up. Haney back on the prowl. Right hand for Haney. Jab from Haney as he corners Garcia. He starts to push and the referee warns him about a shot to Garcia’s back. Haney argues that Garcia is turning his back to him. More inactivity has the crowd booing again. Garcia springs off the ropes but can’t connect with much.

MMA Fighting scores the round, 10-9 Haney. Overall, 59-55 Haney.

Round 7: Garcia hurling that left out there with no setup. And one lands! Garcia follows with a right and that is a knockdown! Whoa! Haney up, but he might still be on skates. Garcia pressures and Haney has to tie him up. Referee takes a point from Garcia for punching on the break. Wild sequence. Garcia lands again and Haney looks hurt, he drops to his knees but the referee says it’s not a knockdown. He’s stumbling around and Garcia pushes him down again. What. Is. Happening. Haney literally holding on for dear life with about a minute still to go. Garcia’s hands are down and he is just daring Haney to open up. Somehow, we’re going to the eighth. Breathe, everyone.

MMA Fighting scores the round, 9-8 Garcia. Overall, 67-64 Haney.

Round 8: Garcia right back on the attack. Haney is not cleanly avoiding these punches. Whatever Garcia is doing, it’s working. Clubbing right hands from Garcia. Haney punches the body as Garcia continues to almost turn himself completely away from him. Another Haney body shot lands. He’s back to chasing Garcia to the corner. Straight right to the body by Haney. Good right hands from Haney. Bounce-back round for the champion.

MMA Fighting scores the round, 10-9 Haney. Overall, 77-73 Haney.

Round 9: No opening flurry from Garcia this round. It’s Haney immediately closing the distance. A Haney has Garcia ducking away. Left hand by Haney on the button. Garcia throwing almost nothing. Haney with a right hand. A pair of left hooks connect for Haney. Garcia finally lets his hands go with an uppercut and that got Haney’s attention. Garcia throwing heavy. Too little too late?

MMA Fighting scores the round, 10-9 Haney. Overall, 87-82 Haney.

Round 10: Haney beats Garcia to the punch again, but almost pays for it as Garcia fires back with power punches. Garcia doesn’t let up and he rocks Haney again. There’s another knockdown! What a truly bizarre fight. Back on the feet, we have more grabbing and holding from Haney. Referee warns both about excessive holding. Plenty of gamesmanship in this one. A hammer left hook from Garcia freezes Haney, but he manages to stay upright. Monster round for Garcia, who lands two more right hands. Body shots by Haney. No idea how the final rounds will play out.

MMA Fighting scores the round, 10-8 Garcia. Overall, 95-92 Haney.

Round 11: Garcia walking Haney down, he’s hungry for the finish. Haney backs him up and retakes control of the ring. Garcia scores with a right as he advances. He follows with a left hook and Haney ties him up. Right hand from Garcia. Another clean right for Garcia. Left hand puts Haney on his backside! He answers the count. Less than a minute left in this round. Haney being drawn into a sloppy exchange. Anything can happen now.

MMA Fighting scores the round, 10-8 Garcia. Overall, 103-102 Haney.

Round 12: Haney adventurous with his strikes, but this could be trouble for him. Finally, he goes back to his jab. Two minutes left. Garcia just misses with that left hook. Right hand for Garcia. Haney jabs. A Garcia jab! Haven’t seen much of that this fight. Garcia showboating in there, shaking his shoulders, daring Haney to attack. Haney jabs. Garcia sticking his tongue out like a lizard. I don’t know.

MMA Fighting scores the round, 10-9 Garcia. Overall, 112-112.

Official result: Ryan Garcia def. Devin Haney via majority decision (112-112, 114-110, 115-109)

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts