When Leon Edwards needed a new opponent for UFC Vegas 21 this weekend, former interim champion Colby Covington seemed like the most logical choice to face him.
It’s the fight UFC president Dana White wanted to book but Covington declined the offer, which then led to the promotion seeking another option. Fresh off a win over Dhiego Lima just a few weeks ago, Belal Muhammad jumped at the opportunity to face an opponent like Edwards.
After clawing his way into the top 15 rankings with four straight wins, Muhammad was hoping for a chance to take a step up in competition and it doesn’t much sense to him that other fighters didn’t have that same mentality when Edwards became available.