With the event over, now’s the time to rewatch the main event and break it down round by round.
Round 1: within twenty seconds of the fight, Belal shoots a takedown and gets it quite easily. Belal stays active on the ground, trying to get to a better position and just peppering little strikes to annoy Edwards. Edwards finds a way up but is back against the cage but reverses the position. Edwards lands an elbow off the break of the clinch. Belal stayed active with his jab on the feet. Edwards had some nice knees to the mid-section of Belal. Belal’s striking is clunky but effective. He never really looks clean when striking, but he is able to hit you, which you don’t realise until it’s too late. Belal seems to hurt Edwards with about a minute left in the round. He lands a nice lead uppercut, then pushes him against the cage and gets another takedown. Similar to his first takedown, he stays active and lands small but effective strikes. Great first round from Muhammad. He mixed his striking and wrestling very well and annoyed Edwards into not being comfortable to use his game. Easy 10-9 For Belal after round 1.
Round 2: Belal’s willingness to strike with Leon is working well so far in the fight. His jab is a big weapon for him and lands well most of the time. Belal tries to shoot for another takedown, but Edwards defends well. Belal lands a knee tap and transitions to the back of Edwards next to the cage. Belal is able to pick Edwards up and dumps him on his head, and takes the back again, and this time is looking to set up a choke. Belal does it again when Edwards stands up. Edwards finds his own takedown with thirty seconds left in the round, but not much is done with it. Another strong round from Belal. Edwards looks lost at what to do until late in that round when he got Belal down and realised he could do it, too. Belal is just grinding Edwards in the first two rounds and striking very well, considering Edwards is legit on the feet. Another 10-9 for Belal, so 20-18 after two.
Round 3: The fight is starting to get repetitive, with Belal striking his way to get Edwards up against the cage and taking Edwards down, but Edwards is able to reverse and get to the back of Belal against the cage. Edwards is able to keep the back and move it to the ground, where he can look for a submission. Edwards spends most of the round in control from the back. Trying to set up a submission as well as using short but effective strikes like Belal did. This was Edwards best round so far. Nothing crazy, but he was able to reverse Belal and control the fight from his back. 10-9 Edwards but 29-28 Belal after three.
Round 4: Edwards comes out aggressive to start the round but Belal is right there with him and eventually starts to land his jabs and his lead uppercuts and getting the better of the exchanges. Belal shoots a takedown but transitions to a back take when he realises the takedown wasn’t there. Belal gets the body triangle and is controlling the fight off his back, similar to Edwards in round 3. He is continuously landing short but effective strikes off his back and making Edwards uncomfortable. Edwards reverses the position with 30 seconds to go and is on top of Belal but doesn’t do anything to steal the round. Belal just looks better than Edwards, which is wild. Edwards looks lost and worried to try as he doesn’t want to be taken down by Belal. 10-9 Belal and 39-37 after round 4.
Round 5: Edwards Is able to stop the takedown attempt of Belal in the centre of the cage. Belal stays active with his striking and is able to get Leon up against the cage and shoots and takes the back of Edwards up against the cage. Belal is sat up against the cage on the back of Edwards and just tapping away with his strikes, trying to get Edwards to open up for a choke. Edwards reverses with 40 seconds left in the round and lands big elbows, which cut Belal, but Belal survives to the horn. That last 40 seconds wins the round for Leon but not the fight. 10-9 Edwards.
Final Scorecard: 48-47 Belal Muhammad.
Overall Thoughts: This was a career-best performance from Belal for me. I always thought he was good but thought he would struggle once he fought the best of the division, but every time, he has impressed me. Leon looked off in this one but it seemed more on the fact he wasn’t expecting Belal to be as solid at striking as he was. Belal’s wrestling looked brilliant and grinding. I’m not interested in a rematch straight away, so hopefully, we see Belal against someone on the up and bring some life back to the division.