UFC commentator John Gooden believes Belal Muhammad might be overconfident with his trash talk aimed at reigning welterweight champion Leon Edwards ahead of their rematch at UFC 304.
"Rocky" is preparing to defend his title against Muhammad in the headlining bout of the upcoming UFC pay-per-view, set for July 27 at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.
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The two fighters previously clashed in a short-notice matchup at a UFC Fight Night main event in March 2021. However, the bout was cut short when an accidental eye poke in the second round left "Remember the Name" unable to continue, resulting in the fight being declared a no-contest.
After their initial bout, Edwards earned a title shot by defeating Nate Diaz at UFC 263 and ultimately overcame Kamaru Usman to claim the 170-pound championship at UFC 278 in August 2022. Meanwhile, Muhammad had to achieve a five-fight undefeated streak to finally secure his first UFC title opportunity.
As the two rivals prepare to clash again, "Remember the Name" is brimming with a new level of confidence, consistently downplaying the Jamaican-born Englishman and even branding him as the "easiest" opponent in the division.
However, Gooden thinks Muhammad might have been overreaching with his verbal jabs...
Gooden Argues Muhammad's Discrediting of Edwards Is Misjudgment
During a recent interview with MiddleEasy, Gooden weighed in on his compatriot Edwards' upcoming bout against Muhammad. The British UFC broadcaster remarked that the American's unwarranted verbal jabs at "Rocky" won't win him any fans in the champion's homeland and may even backfire.
He mentioned that Edwards has garnered a substantial fan base in the UK thanks to his consistently stellar performances, which have cemented his reputation as a hometown hero.
He's [Edwards] won over the British public through his success," Gooden said. "I mean, Belal is talking a lot at the moment, and he is saying some pretty... Well, he's discrediting Leon in a lot of ways. He's got a lot of thoughts about his personality and his marketability, etc., etc., but Leon has earned this fanfare in the UK.
The wider populous likes winners and Leon's done nothing but that right, so he's earned the popularity. So Belal is deluded if he thinks he's going to walk out, and he's going to get the cheers, and Leon's going to get the boos like it's not going to be that way.
Edwards isn't celebrated for his microphone skills and had previously shrugged off Muhammad's attempts to downplay him, questioning where his rival's newfound confidence is coming from. Regardless, seeing how both fighters approach UFC 304 in the coming days will be fascinating.