"Ok I don’t like Manchester anymore" - Belal Muhammad reacts to hostile reception at UFC 304 press conference

Belal Muhammad did not feel any love from the local crowd in Manchester at the UFC 304 press conference. Though he has never been a fan favorite and expected to receive heckling from the resident supporters, the UFC 304 main event title challenger did not feel any respect at the promotional event.

Shortly after the press conference, Muhammad gave his thoughts on the local fans on social media. 'Remember the Name' was repeatedly booed nearly every time he picked up his microphone with the crowd unanimously in support of welterweight champion Leon Edwards, a resident of the nearby city of Birmingham.

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Muhammad interacted with the crowd, who frequently flipped him the bird while yelling obscene profanities in his direction. Despite the harsh reaction from the crowd, the Chicago native kept a positive demeanor throughout the press conference.

While the fight with Edwards will be a rematch, the situation around it represents a lot of firsts for Muhammad. The Chicago native has never before headlined a UFC pay-per-view card and will be competing in the United Kingdom for the first time.

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Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad's first fight

Years before Leon Edwards became the UFC welterweight champion he returned from a two-year-long layoff against Belal Muhammad in the main event of UFC Vegas 21.

The fight was exciting for as long as it lasted with Edwards having the upper hand in the first round before poking Muhammad in the eye in the second. Muhammad was unable to regain vision in his eye, causing the cage-side physician and referee to stop the fight and declare it a no-contest.

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Muhammad pushed for an immediate rematch but the UFC and Edwards pivoted towards a matchup with Nate Diaz at 263. Edwards would win the fight to set himself up for a title opportunity one year later and dramatically win the belt with a last-minute head-kick knockout of Kamaru Usman.

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