Reigning welterweight champion Leon Edwards defended his 170-pound title by shutting down longtime division contender Colby Covington atop the UFC 296 pay-per-view (PPV) event last Sat. night (Dec. 16, 2023) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Chaos” looked “old and slow,” according to post-fight comments made by UFC CEO Dana White, who once told the combat sports media that Covington would be welterweight champion if former 170-pound titleholder Kamaru Usman did not exist.
Guess not.
Now that “Rocky” has defeated both Usman and Covington, the promotion will have to decide if Belal Muhammad is next in line for a welterweight title shot. “Remember the Name” is facing stiff competition from undefeated up-and-comer Shavkat Rakhmonov.
“Nomad” submitted former title challenger Stephen Thompson at UFC 296.
The bookies at BetOnline.ag opened Edwards as the -400 (1/4) betting favorite against +300 (3/1) for Muhammad, probably because the challenger is primarily a wrestler and “Rocky” has already proven himself against wrestlers opposite Usman (twice) and Covington.
That said, the champ is merely a pick ‘em against Rakhmonov, with both fighters clocking in at -110 (10/11). “Nomad,” four years younger than Edwards at 32, has 18 straight wins with all 18 opponents getting finished by way of knockout or submission.
Expect UFC matchmakers to sort this out over the coming weeks, though it should be noted the finicky Edwards has no desire to face Muhammad in his next title defense, despite a disappointing No Contest in their UFC Vegas 21 headliner back in March 2021.
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This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
