Belal Muhammad wrestles away Leon Edwards' crown at UFC 304 - ESPN

Belal Muhammad's nickname is «Remember the Name.»

After Saturday night's victory, they won't forget it.

Muhammad stunned Leon Edwards with an authoritative performance that mixed stifling grappling and much-improved striking to win the welterweight championship by unanimous decision Saturday in the main event of UFC 304 at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46.

The fight was a rematch of their 2021 meeting that ended in a no-contest after Muhammad suffered an accidental eye poke and was unable to continue. Muhammad had to wait patiently for the rematch and made good on the opportunity when it finally arrived with a career-defining performance against the hometown hero who sought to send the fans home happy.

«We have a real champion in Chicago now,» Muhammad said after extending his unbeaten streak to 11.

UFC president Dana White said afterward that an immediate rematch between Muhammad and Edwards was unlikely, saying that Saturday's fight «wasn't a barnburner.

The fight couldn't have started any better for Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC), who wasted little time swooping in and taking Edwards to the canvas. However, Edwards worked his way back to his feet as the Manchester crowd erupted. Edwards went to work with his striking, drilling Muhammad with a knee to the midsection and landing a hard left uppercut. But Muhammad broke through with an uppercut and mixed in a slam for a second takedown to close the round.

It was a stark difference from their previous meeting, in which Edwards (22-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) methodically picked Muhammad apart in the opening round before the eye poke ended the fight. This time around, it was Muhammad picking apart Edwards. Muhammad also took his