Tag: Ufc Welterweight Title

Belal Muhammad wins welterweight title at UFC 304

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A new UFC welterweight champion has been crowned.

Belal Muhammad defeated Leon Edwards by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) to win the UFC welterweight title for the first time at UFC 304 in Manchester, England. Muhammad dominated the first rounds of the match and while Edwards made a comeback towards the latter half of the fight, he did not do enough for the judges.

Edwards had been champion for 707 days, defeating Kamaru Usman at UFC 278 back on August 20, 2022. Prior to Saturday he hadn’t lost a fight since 2015.  He previously fought Muhammad back on March 13, 2021 which ended in a no contest after an eye poke rendered Muhammad unable to continue.

The main event was one of two title matches that took place on Saturday. In the co-main event, Tom Aspinall quickly defeated Curtis Blaydes by knockout one minute into the match to retain the interim UFC heavyweight title. Rising star Paddy Pimblett also fought on the card, defeating Bobby Green by technical submission in the first round. 

Leon Edwards wins welterweight title at UFC 278

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Leon Edwards is the new UFC welterweight Champion.

At Saturday’s UFC 278 event, Edwards defeated Kamaru Usman by knockout after he connected a head kick at 4:04 of round 5. This ends Usman’s run with the welterweight title after 1,267 days, originally defeating Tyron Woodley at UFC 235 on March 2, 2019.

“We were writing his obituary,” said Daniel Corimer on commentary. During the fifth round, announcers had speculated that Edwards had been defeated, as Usman had been in control of most of the match heading into the final round.

“I told it was possible we could win a belt from the UK,” Edwards, who is from Birmingham, said in his post-fight interview. “I told you. Now look at me now! Look at me now! I told you I could do it!”

The two previously fought in 2015, with Usman winning the fight by unanimous decision. This was only the second loss of Usman’s career, losing his second-ever fight to Jose Caceres back in 2013.