Georges St-Pierre's esteemed head coach, Firas Zahabi, recently showered accolades on Belal Muhammad for his tenacious performance against Leon Edwards at UFC 304.
"Remember the Name" dethroned the defending UFC welterweight champion last weekend at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester, United Kingdom. This highly anticipated bout was their second encounter, following their initial fight in March 2021, which concluded in a no-contest due to an accidental eye-poke that prevented Muhammad from continuing past the second round.
Muhammad opened the fight with vigor, swiftly executing a takedown that showcased his superior wrestling skills. His fluid blend of takedowns and sharp boxing set the pace early on. In the second round, the American ramped up his offense, slamming "Rocky" headfirst into the canvas and seizing control of the match.
Edwards mounted a fierce comeback in the fourth round, unleashing a flurry of potent strikes. However, Muhammad closed the distance and secured another takedown, maintaining dominant control for the majority of the round. The Englishman managed to reverse the position in the final round, raining down a torrent of elbows that inflicted significant damage on Muhammad's nose, but his relentless assault wasn't enough to sway the judges' scorecards in his favor.
The official scores of the fight were 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46, decisively naming "Remember the Name" as the new UFC welterweight champion.
Zahabi believes that Muhammad deployed an impressive array of techniques against Edwards...
Zahabi Credits Muhammad's Victory Over Edwards to His Self-Belief
In a recent video on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel, Zahabi analyzed the title fight between Edwards and Muhammad. The esteemed MMA coach lauded the challenger, noting that overcoming a fighter like "Rocky", known for his exceptional takedown defense, was achievable only through Muhammad's unwavering confidence in his grappling prowess.
His boxing was excellent, and his double leg was even better," Zahabi said. "The way he locked it up, the way he had his back straight, stunning performance. That's no easy fight. Leon Edwards ain't no easy fight. Colby Covington couldn't take him down. Colby Covington, the guy who's been wrestling his entire life, the guy who was supposed to be the top wrestler in the UFC, he couldn't do it. He couldn't do it. How come Belal was taking him down over and over again with such belief? Belal has so much belief in his takedowns.
Zahabi went on to highlight how "Remember the Name" has improved his skillset to an entirely new level since his first fight against Edwards.
That's a very different Belal Muhammad. I think Leon Edwards really underestimated Belal Muhammad. I really think he underestimated him, which was a huge mistake because Belal has really improved in the last three years. He was a great fighter then; he's a much better fighter now.
With his recent victory, Muhammad extended his impressive unbeaten streak to 11 consecutive fights in the Octagon.
Although the Chicago native hasn't yet named an opponent for his first title defense, Shavkat Rakhmonov stands out as the most likely contender.