UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad has predicted Colby Covington to retire should he suffer defeat to Leon Edwards at UFC 296.
The event takes place on 16 December at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Headlined by Edwards and Covington for the welterweight title, it will serve as the final UFC event of the year.
‘Rocky’ won the title in August last year, sensationally knocking out Kamaru Usman and since defending it once. Meanwhile, 35-year-old Covington has been inactive for over a year – last fighting and defeating nemesis Jorge Masvidal in early 2022.
Muhammad, current #3 welterweight, gave his thoughts to MMA Fighting on what will happen if ‘Chaos’ falls to a third UFC title defeat.
He said: “One hundred percent, he’s not a guy that’s going to fight contenders. You’ve seen it.
“The UFC’s literally given him older guys on their way out in every single one of his fights just so he can get a win, then given him a title fight. Like, there’s no more older guys in the division for him to fight if he loses to Leon. There’s no more older guys in the division on their way out.
“Maybe they’ll throw him Tony Ferguson if Tony Ferguson stays at 170, but I doubt it.
“This will be the third title shot that he’s going to lose and like Matt Brown said, he’s not a fighter. He’s a guy that loves to build up, loves to be fake, loves to have the people cheer him or boo him.
“But if he loses this one, all his loser fans, fake fans, they’re all going to realise this dude does really suck.
Belal Muhammad Gives Prediction for Edwards vs Covington
‘Remember The Name’ is more than qualified to give his opinion on how the fight will play out having shared the octagon with the champ previously.
The 35-year-old stepped in on short notice to face Edwards back in 2021. This came after Khamzat Chimaev was forced to pull out of his scheduled fight with the Brit.
However, the fight ended in unfortunate fashion when Muhammad was inadvertently poked in the eye by his opponent. The contest was ruled a no-contest just 18 seconds into the second round.
Since then, he has won five straight fights and is hoping to get the next title shot after UFC 296.
First, the American gave his opinion on who will win the upcoming title fight.
“I think Colby’s going to come out throwing his wild, random strikes, literally his terrible technique. I think Leon’s going to move around, throw some good high kicks, body kicks, low kicks. Colby’s going to take a couple of terrible shots, and he’s going to realise he can’t take Leon down.
“Leon probably will get taken down in the first round, second round. Then once it gets later to the third or fourth round, I think he’s going to start feeling the kicks from Leon, his body is going to start hurting, and I think Leon’s going to get the finish in the fourth round.”
Quotes via BJPENN.COM
Do you agree with Belal Muhammad? Will Colby Covington hang up the gloves? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
