Shavkat Rakhmonov tells Belal Muhammad to “keep his word” following upset win over Leon Edwards; the champion responds
Belal Muhammad stunned the MMA world after securing the welterweight title with a dominant performance against Leon Edwards at UFC 304. The pair headlined the highly anticipated event, and 'Remember The Name' called his shot and took it as he became a UFC champion in his first title fight.
Many expected Edwards to defeat Muhammad, with 'Rocky' having showcased solid performances in two previous title defenses against Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington.
The relentless wrestling of the Chicago native allowed him to control much of the action. But surprisingly, the new welterweight king was able to compete with Edwards on the feet, with the former champion regarded as one of the UFC's best strikers.
Following the result, surging contender Shavkat Rakhmonov took to X to remind the 36-year-old to follow through on the verbal agreement they had made. He wrote:
"Congratulations on your well deserved victory, @bullyb170! I hope you keep your word and defend your title against me when you're ready, champ."
See Shavkat Rakhmonov's callout of Belal Muhammad below:
'Remember The Name' appeared in front of the media following the event, where he responded to Rakhmonov's challenge, saying:
"I've never turned down a fight, literally... I've had so many people turn down fights against me. So now I'm at the top, I'm the man, and for me now it's cementing my legacy as the best welterweight to ever do it..
Watch Muhammad's interview below (3:05):
Belal Muhammad shoots down immediate rematch with Leon Edwards
Leon Edwards was defeated for the first time in almost ten years when he faced Belal Muhammad in the main event of UFC 304.
On paper, the welterweight title clash was a classic 'striker vs. grappler' matchup. But Muhammad proved himself to be a more complete fighter than most expected as he competed with Edwards on the feet and dominated the grappling exchanges.
The pair had previously faced once before, at UFC Vegas 21 in 2021, where 'Rocky' dominated his opponent until the fight was stopped due to a brutal eye poke.
After being crowned the new welterweight champion, 'Remember The Name' appeared in front of the media. He was asked if he'd be open to an immediate rematch against Edwards, and said:
"I'll give him a rematch in three years. Let him work his way back up. I think it was a dominant fight. There's really no need for a rematch." [7:00-7:11 in Belal Muhammad's aforementioned interview]