A big-time contest occurs on Saturday night where the winner looks to put themselves in prime position for a welterweight title shot as No. 3-ranked Leon Edwards takes on No. 13-ranked Belal Muhammad from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nev.
Edwards had been set to face Khamzat Chimaev on multiple occasions. But Chimaev has unable to recover from the coronavirus, and the UFC decided to go in a different direction so Edwards can finally compete after being inactive since July 2019. Even though he just beat Dhiego Lima at UFC 258, Muhammad is stepping up to plate on four weeks notice.
Edwards returns for the first time in 20 months, riding an eight-fight winning streak. In his last time out, the Englishman defeated former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision. "Rocky" hasn't suffered defeat since December 2015. Who did Edwards lose to? Current welterweight champion Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision.
Muhammad enters the biggest contest of his career and his first UFC main event by winning eight of his nine fights, including a current four-fight winning streak. When the opportunity arose he might not have never gotten, Muhammad took advantage and plans on capitalizing the chance he's been given.
"This is that moment where, I asked for it," Muhammad said to MMA Fighting. "You're always seeing it in your head happening a certain way. I thought it was going to be a longer road, but the fact that it came so quick, beautiful. I don't have to go through 13 other guys to get to No. 3. I can just go straight to No. 3, win this fight, and get a title fight."
"This is a guy (Edwards) that won eight of his last nine fights, and a guy who won eight fights," Muhammad said. "In the old UFC days, this is the frickin' main event."
Can Edwards shake off cage rust and inch closer to a coveted title shot? Or does Muhammad spring the upset and vault himself into title contention?
Here is everything you need to know about UFC Fight Night: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad.
When is UFC Fight Night: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad?
- Date: Saturday, March 13
- Prelims: 5 p.m. ET
- Main card: 8 p.m. ET
UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad takes place Saturday night, March 13. Prelims get underway at 5 p.m. ET, followed by the main card at 8 p.m. ET.
How to watch UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad TV, live stream info
In the United States, the prelims and main card are on ESPN+.
In Canada, the prelims (5 p.m. ET) and main card are on TSN5.
In the U.K., UFC Fight Night can be seen live BT Sport 1 (prelims at 11 p.m. GMT and main card at 1 a.m. on Sunday).
In Germany, Austria, Italy and Spain, the UFC Fight Night main card (2 a.m. CET Sunday) is available on DAZN, the global sports streaming service.
More details about how to watch in other countries can be found at UFC.com.
Where is UFC Fight Night?
UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Edwards competes at the Apex for the first time while Muhammad steps into the venue for the third time.
UFC Fight Night odds
Bet MGM (as of March 8) has installed Edwards as a sizable favorite at -250 meaning you'd need to bet $250 to win $100. Meanwhile, Muhammad is at +210, meaning if you bet $100, you'd net $210.
Leon Edwards record, bio
- Name: Leon Edwards
- Nationality: English
- Born: August 25, 1991
- Height: 6-2
- Reach: 74 inches
- Total fights: 21
- Record: 18-3
Belal Muhammad record, bio
- Name: Belal Muhammad
- Nationality: Palestinian
- Born: July 9, 1988
- Height: 5-10
- Reach: 72 inches
- Total fights: 21
- Record: 18-3
UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad fight card
Main card
- Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad; Welterweight
- Misha Cirkunov vs. Ryan Spann; Light Heavyweight
- Ben Rothwell vs. Philipe Lins; Heavyweight
- Dan Ige vs. Gavin Tucker; Featherweight
- Angela Hill vs. Ashley Yoder; Women’s Strawweight
- Matheus Nicolau vs. Manel Kape; Flyweight
- Eryk Anders vs. Darren Stewart; Middleweight
Preliminary card
- Cortney Casey vs. JJ Aldrich; Women’s Flyweight
- Rani Yahya vs. Ray Rodriguez; Bantamweight
- Charles Jourdain vs. Marcelo Rojo; Featherweight
- Jonathan Martinez vs. Davey Grant; Bantamweight
- Jinh Yu Frey vs. Gloria de Paula; Women’s Strawweight
- Matthew Semelsberger vs. Jason Witt; Welterweight