Muhammad has said that he expects to walk through Edwards in their rematch at UFC 304 on Saturday night, where “Remember The Name” will bid to dethrone “Rocky” for the undisputed UFC welterweight title in Manchester.
But Edwards’ coach Dave Lovell is unconcerned with Muhammad’s bullish pre-fight talk, and says the champion has every weapon at his disposal ready to defeat Muhammad and retain his title for the third successive time.
“Listen, bro, talk is cheap, isn’t it?” Lovell told Submission Radio.
“You know, anybody can say anything. But the proof’s in the pudding, isn’t it? I can say I can go out there and knock out Francis Ngannou but you know, saying it (is one thing), but doing it is another thing. Talk is cheap, mate.
“It’s just fight talk. He’s got to do something to try and brighten his character, get the people a little bit more interested in him. It is what it is. We’re ready to go. Belal, it doesn’t matter.”
Muhammad is heading across the pond to challenge Edwards for his belt, where Lovell says a huge, raucous British fanbase awaits. The UK fight fans always back their fighters with a deafening atmosphere at UK UFC events, and Lovell said Muhammad could be in for a shock on fight night when he realises how intimidating a UK crowd can be.
“I think when he comes, he’s going to be on hostile territory and he’ll be made to feel so,
said Lovell.
“Coming to the UK, the UK fans, as you know, are very passionate. And believe they’re behind them 100%, so Belal may just be in for a little shock, to be fair.”
The excitement level for Edwards’ fight with Muhammad hasn’t reached the heights of his prior title fights with Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, and Lovell said that’s largely down to Muhammad’s grinding, unspectacular fighting style.
“It’s because of his style of fighting, maybe. I mean, in the UFC world his style of fighting, they’re known as crotch sniffers as, you know, their wrestlers,” he suggested.
“I believe he’ll come and try and press up against the cage, grind him there, take him down, keep him down there for as long as he can, and try and grind out a decision that way. That’s how I maybe see his fight game. But we’re prepared in every department.”
Muhammad has been sharpening his wrestling and grappling with former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and his team, and Lovell and his coaching team have paid close attention.
Lovell said that Edwards will suitably prepared for the challenge Muhammad will bring, and stated that Edwards will be Muhammad’s match in the wrestling department on Saturday night.
“We know, he’s been amongst Khabib and the gang, he goes away, trains with them. So he would have adapted a lot of their styles,” he said.
“We have seen a slight difference in his wrestling which I’m not prepared to reveal, but we’ve been working on certain things … some defensive and offensive wrestling moves against Belal.
“Belal can only bring his A game. He’s got cardio on his side. He’s got a good engine on him, but I think Leon can match him (in) every department.”
And when it comes to the matchup itself, Lovell
“Personally, I think Leon can stop him. If he gets careless, it could be early,” he said.
“If Belal doesn’t walk onto anything, I think Leon can get him out there – Round 3, Round 4 – or win a unanimous points decision.”
