Belal Muhammad wasn’t offered to face Leon Edwards as the three opponents revealed for fizzled UFC 300 fight
The three opponents that UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards was offered to face at UFC 300 have been revealed and none were Belal Muhammad.
Muhammad is currently the second-ranked welterweight and most assumed would be next in line for the next title shot. However, it was a bit of a surprise when Dana White revealed after UFC 298 that Edwards was offered three different opponents for UFC 300 but none came to fruition.
“Let me say this, Leon Edwards has had, like, three opponents throughout this thing,” Dana White said after UFC 298. “Leon Edwards doesn’t say no to anybody. This kid is an absolute stud. He’s had like three opponents thrown at him during UFC 300, yes, yes, yes. He was willing to take on anybody. Kid’s an absolute stud. Leon, thank you, much respect…
“This guy doesn’t care – he’ll fight anybody. Think about this, we call, and we’re talking about UFC 300, you’re going to headline, you’re going to fight this guy. Then we call back and say, ‘You’re going to fight this guy.’ Then a third time we call and change opponents on him again. It’s just crazy… This guy could care less. He’s up for the challenge. He’s ready to fight anybody. I love it and respect it very much,” White continued about Leon Edwards.
Immediately many fans wondered who the three opponents that were offered to Leon Edwards were. On Monday, The Schmozone podcast revealed Belal Muhammad was never offered the title fight.
🚨Can confirm Belal Muhammad was NOT one of the 3 fighters offered to Leon Edwards for #UFC300
— The Schmozone (@TheSchmozone) February 18, 2024
Following that report, MMA insider Ariel Helwani revealed on his The MMA Hour show on Monday that the three opponents were Khamzat Chimaev, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, but for different reasons, all three never came to fruition.
The 3 fighters Dana White offered Leon to headline #UFC300:
Khamzat
Shavkat
IslamLeon said yes to all of them.
Belal was not offered.
First reported by @TheSchmo312, confirmed by @arielhelwani pic.twitter.com/bToP1l2ZqD
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) February 19, 2024
All three of those fights would have been massive, but it is a bit surprising that Belal Muhammad was not considered for the title fight. With that, it’s now uncertain that he will be getting the next welterweight title shot, which many expected to be the case.
As for Leon Edwards, it’s uncertain when he will return to the Octagon but the Brit was ready to headline UFC 300 against whoever the promotion was going to put in front of him. But, with the fight fizzling out the Brit remains on the sideline as he looks to return ASAP.
