UFC 304 Main Event Review: How Muhammad Defeated Edwards
Belal Muhammad won the welterweight championship at UFC 304 by defeating Leon Edwards over five rounds at Co-op Live in Manchester. Their long-awaited rematch, staged on the July 27, 2024, U.S. broadcast schedule and finishing July 28 locally, ended with a unanimous decision: 48–47, 48–47 and 49–46.
Why the rematch mattered
Their first meeting in March 2021 ended in a no contest after an accidental eye poke early in round two. It offered too little completed action to settle which fighter could impose his approach across a full main event. Edwards subsequently captured the title from Kamaru Usman and defended it against Usman and Colby Covington. Muhammad earned his opportunity through victories that included Stephen Thompson and Gilbert Burns.
The matchup brought together Edwards’ measured striking and Muhammad’s persistent pressure. Before the event, UFC’s coaching analysis emphasized the importance of distance: Edwards needed room for his varied attacks, while Muhammad needed to close that space and keep him working. That was a useful tactical question, and the completed fight supplied the answer.
Pressure connects the striking and wrestling
Muhammad’s wrestling did not operate separately from his stand-up offense. Forward movement and punches helped him close distance, making Edwards respond to several threats rather than wait comfortably for a single takedown attempt. His success in the opening rounds established an advantage the champion had to chase.
Edwards found a way back into the fight in the third round through grappling of his own. Muhammad then returned to his wrestling in the fourth and continued that work in the fifth. The result illustrates why one successful adjustment is not enough in a five-round title fight: the opponent can reset his approach and reassert it.
Edwards’ late offense does not change the result
Edwards landed damaging offense late in the final round, including an elbow that cut Muhammad. It was a meaningful finish to his effort, but it did not reverse the earlier rounds on the judges’ cards. All three officials awarded the challenger the fight.
Muhammad became champion that night; Edwards lost the belt after two successful defenses. The contest showed how consistent pressure can limit the opportunities of a skilled striker without requiring a knockout. Manchester resolved the unanswered 2021 matchup through twenty-five minutes of completed competition, and Muhammad supplied the more successful overall performance.
Sources
- UFC tactical preview: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2
- UFC announcement and pre-event background
- Reuters report on Muhammad’s championship victory
- UFC 304 official judges’ scorecards
Sources: ufc.com; ufc.com; ufc.com
Tags
MMA, Combat Sports
