Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad have been getting in each other's faces throughout fight week, leading to a heated face-off at the UFC 304 press conference on July 25. Muhammad has been the primary trash talker ahead of the matchup but it was Edwards who attempted to engage with him, failing to get the challenger to flinch on stage.
Despite fans nearly unanimously backing the champion, most people could not get behind Edwards' failed stunt. The Englishman's fake lunge came after Muhammad used his "headshot dead" gimmick back at him, leading many to believe that the 36-year-old had penetrated the mental focus of his opponent.
One fan claimed that Muhammad was "lowkey in his head" with the comment:
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"Belal lowkey in his head"
![Fan claiming Belal Muhammad is "in the head" of Leon Edwards. [via @mmafighting on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/17d69-17219380441052-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/17d69-17219380441052-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/17d69-17219380441052-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/17d69-17219380441052-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/17d69-17219380441052-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/17d69-17219380441052-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/17d69-17219380441052-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/17d69-17219380441052-1920.jpg 1920w)
Muhammad did not do much in response other than laugh at the botched intimidation tactic before turning his attention to the crowd.
Others wrote:
"-1000 aura for Leon on the 'pump fake' only one to flinch was Dana"
" Lmfao Belal by decision"
"More action than the actual fight"
View more fan reactions to Leon Edwards failing to get Belal Muhammad to flinch at the UFC 304 press conference below:
![Fans react to Leon Edwards' failed stunt at the UFC 304 press conference. [via @mmafighting on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/57665-17219380982878-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/57665-17219380982878-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/57665-17219380982878-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/57665-17219380982878-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/57665-17219380982878-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/57665-17219380982878-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/57665-17219380982878-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/57665-17219380982878-1920.jpg 1920w)
Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad preview
In his third defense of the UFC welterweight title, Leon Edwards will face Belal Muhammad in a rematch from the main event of UFC Vegas 21 that ended with an anticlimactic eye poke.
Since their first fight neither fighter has lost, with Edwards winning four straight, including three championship wins. Edwards dramatically took the belt from Kamaru Usman at UFC 278 before defending his title twice - against Usman in a trilogy and Colby Covington at UFC 296.
In his second fight in the United Kingdom in his last three appearances, Edwards will reluctantly take on Muhammad, who has won five straight since their last meeting. Muhammad's most recent win over Gilbert Burns on short notice guaranteed him the title fight from Dana White and the UFC.