With Khamzat Chimaev forced to withdraw from this bout due to lingering COVID-19 effects, Leon Edwards will instead face Belal Muhammad in the main event of UFC Vegas 21 this Saturday night.
Leon Edwards vs Belal MuhammadLatest Odds & Fight Info |
|
|---|---|
| Main Event odds | Edwards -268 at Nags.bet | Muhammad +228 at Nags.bet |
| When | Saturday, March 13 – main card from 5pm PST |
| Where | UFC APEX – Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Watch Live | ESPN+ (US), BT Sport (UK), ESPN (AU), UFC Fight Pass, UFC.com |
Leon Edwards (18-3-0) was originally expected to make his long-awaited return to the octagon against undefeated prospect Khamzat Chimaev. But with Chimaev forced to withdraw from the bout due to lingering COVID-19 effects, Edwards will instead face Belal Muhammad (18-3-0) in the main event of UFC Vegas 21 this Saturday night.
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Edwards is the no.3 welterweight in the UFC. He hasn’t fought since July 20, 2019, when he defeated Rafael dos Anjos for his eighth consecutive win. The COVID-19 pandemic has kept Edwards out of action for an entire year due to travel restrictions and canceled fights, but all systems finally appear to be a go for the 29-year-old to return to the octagon this weekend. He could be in line for a title fight with a convincing win.
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Muhammad has a golden opportunity to pick up a statement win as he fills in for Chimaev in the main event. He has won four straight fights including a win over Dhiego Lima at UFC 258 last month. A win over an established contender like Edwards would catapult Muhammad into the top 10 of the welterweight division and put him in position for some more big-name opponents.
Muhammad has enjoyed success of late by pushing the pace with a high volume of strikes. This could come back to bite him in a five-round fight, especially considering that seven of his last eight wins have come by decision; despite his high-volume striking, he doesn’t really possess knockout power. Against a talented and well-rounded fighter like Edwards, it is going to be difficult for Muhammad to maintain the upper hand for long, especially as the fight wears on.
The only wild card in this bout is Edwards’ ring rust. Muhammad is stepping up big time in competition here, but he is doing so with three fights (and three wins) since Edwards last set foot in the octagon. Fortunately for Edwards, even if he gets off to a slow start, it shouldn’t really be an issue as Muhammad isn’t the type of fighter to score a shocking knockout win. This is a far less dangerous fight than the Chimaev matchup would have been. With no disrespect to Muhammad, Edwards’s clear technical advantages should lead him to an easy win.
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