Belal Muhammad Updates Condition of Eye, Rips Leon Edwards for Dismissing Rematch

It appears that Belal Muhammad will be fine after an eye poke prematurely ended his night against Leon Edwards, but the harsh feelings toward his opponent may have only just begun.

Muhammad was unable to continue just 18 seconds into Round 2 of the Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 187 headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, when Edwards’ inadvertent foul left him visibly distressed and in considerable pain. Though the scene initially seemed to be dire, “Remember the Name” later provided an update of a more positive nature.

“My heart is shattered my first main event ended like that, but God’s the best of planners,” he wrote. “I’m sorry to the fans and the [UFC], you deserved a full fight .. Alhamdillah the vision is coming back and no permanent damage to the eye. I’ll be back and want to run it back.”

My heart is shattered my first main event ended like that but Gods the best of planners im sorry to the fans and the @ufc you deserved a full fight.. Alhamdillah the vision is coming back and no permanent damage to the eye I’ll be back and want to run it back @Leon_edwardsmma pic.twitter.com/5xsvhmZ5Uh

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) March 14, 2021

The first round belonged to Edwards, as he outlanded Muhammad by a 19-to-8 count in significant strikes and briefly wobbled his opponent with a head kick. However, there was much to be decided in a five-round fight, which is why Edwards’ dismissal of a rematch in the post-fight media rounds has drawn Muhammad’s ire.

“Never saw someone act so tough after poking someone in the eye,” Muhammad wrote. “The fight was just getting [going] and if [you’re] satisfied to end it on that note [you’re] soft. You ain’t getting a title fight off that. I took the fight on [three week’s] notice and came to fight, run it back.”

Never saw someone act so tough after poking someone in the eye the fight was just getting goin and if your satisfied to end it on that note your soft you ain’t getting a title fight off that I took the fight on 3 week notice and came to fight run it back @ufc

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) March 14, 2021

While Edwards entered the matchup on an eight-fight winning streak with title aspirations, Muhammad has quietly compiled an impressive record himself, with victories in eight of his last nine Octagon appearances prior to Saturday night. It’s currently unclear if the UFC plans to rebook Edwards and Muhammad at a future event.