Alkass Digital
Vicente Luque expresses a leaning towards Leon Edwards defeating Belal Muhammad at UFC 304. Edwards is set to defend his welterweight title against Muhammad in a rematch scheduled for July 27 at Co-op Live in Manchester, England.
Luque acknowledges Muhammad's improvements since their last encounter in 2021, emphasizing his evolving skills and impressive performance streak. Drawing from his experiences fighting both Muhammad and Edwards, Luque offers insights into the upcoming title fight.
Reflecting on their previous bout, which ended in a no contest due to an eye poke, Luque observes Edwards' dominance before the interruption. However, he notes Muhammad's subsequent growth and sharpening of his fighting tools, highlighting his reduced propensity for errors in the octagon.
While Luque secured a knockout victory against Muhammad in their initial meeting in 2016, Muhammad avenged his loss by employing grappling tactics in their 2022 rematch. Similarly, Luque faced grappling challenges against Edwards in 2017, leading him to believe that Edwards' striking abilities will likely be decisive against Muhammad.
Luque assesses the fight as closely contested, giving both fighters a fair chance of winning. However, he slightly favors Edwards due to his versatile striking skills and precise shots, which he believes can sway the outcome. Recognizing both fighters' wrestling prowess, Luque acknowledges Edwards' superior wrestling cardio and overall experience, contributing to his slight preference for the champion in what he deems a tightly contested matchup.