UFC welterweight veteran Stephen Thompson was impressed by what he noticed from his former opponent Belal Muhammad on the toes this previous weekend.
Muhammad emerged from enemy territory with the 170-pound championship in his possession after upsetting the chances to deliver Leon Edwards’ reign to a sudden halt at the UFC 304 pay-per-view.
Headlining the occasion, which performed out contained in the Co-op Reside enviornment in Manchester, England, “Keep in mind the Identify” made good on his frequent vows to dominate “Rocky” of their rematch.
For big elements of their contest, Muhammad utilized his takedowns and smothering wrestling game to control Edwards. However it wasn’t simply on the bottom the place he put in strong work.
Amid laughter relating to the challenger and his staff’s placing confidence, Muhammad confirmed clear improvement in that space, and he even appeared to have the champ damage in some exchanges.
Thompson Highlights The place Muhammad Had Stunning Placing Success In opposition to Edwards
Throughout a video not too long ago uploaded to his YouTube channel, Stephen Thompson broke down the UFC 304 headliner between Edwards and Muhammad spherical by spherical.
As one of many division’s high strikers, a mantle he’s lengthy shared alongside the likes of “Rocky,” the previous two-time title challenger performed shut consideration to the standup exchanges between the pair.
In that realm, Muhammad actually went above and past expectation, and “Wonderboy” places that down to 3 essential methods.
“At first, there was a couple of placing exchanges. This was one thing I additionally seen within the third spherical. Three methods, placing methods, that actually showcased Belal’s placing and actually confirmed his dominance on this struggle,” Thompson stated. “Primary, Belal Muhammad’s jab. He was piecing him (Edwards) up with that jab! It was so quick. Leon Edwards had a tough time coping with it, man.
“When Leon determined to jab again, it was the second approach that actually annoyed Leon Edwards, and that was his examine hook. Usually you don’t see that from the shorter opponent. … Each time Leon Edwards would jab, Belal Muhammad would come excessive of that jab with the examine hook, touchdown that examine left hook, which is tremendous irritating (to be on the receiving finish of),” Thompson continued. “And the third approach was his uppercut. He was uppercutting the crap out of Leon Edwards your entire struggle.”
Muhammad was fast to touch upon his placing show within the aftermath of the UFC 304 headliner, poking enjoyable at those that had mocked his coach’s comparison to Canelo Álvarez’s Mexican-style boxing.
“Keep in mind the Identify” will now look to showcase related expertise and improvement in that space when he returns to the Octagon, with the expectation being that he’ll defend the belt for the primary time towards the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov.
