Muhammad stunned Leon Edwards with an authoritative performance that mixed stifling grappling and much-improved striking to win the welterweight championship by unanimous decision Saturday in the main event of UFC 304 at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.
The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46.
The fight was a rematch of their 2021 meeting that ended in a no-contest after Muhammad suffered an accidental eye poke and was unable to continue. Muhammad had to wait patiently for the rematch and made good on the opportunity when it finally arrived with a career-defining performance against the hometown hero who sought to send the fans home happy.
“We have a real champion in Chicago now,” Muhammad said after extending his unbeaten streak to 11.
UFC president Dana White said afterward that an immediate rematch between Muhammad and Edwards was unlikely, saying that Saturday’s fight “wasn’t a barnburner.
The fight couldn’t have started any better for Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC), who wasted little time swooping in and taking Edwards to the canvas. However, Edwards worked his way back to his feet as the Manchester crowd erupted. Edwards went to work with his striking, drilling Muhammad with a knee to the midsection and landing a hard left uppercut. But Muhammad broke through with an uppercut and mixed in a slam for a second takedown to close the round.
It was a stark difference from their previous meeting, in which Edwards (22-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) methodically picked Muhammad apart in the opening round before the eye poke ended the fight. This time around, it was Muhammad picking apart Edwards. Muhammad also took his grappling to another level, courtesy of having former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in his camp to help him prepare for the fight.
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The Palestinian American started quickly in the second round, matching Edwards in hand speed and eventually taking him down. Edwards managed to stand up, but Muhammad dumped the champion headfirst on the canvas and quickly took his back. Desperately needing a shift in momentum, Edwards got to his feet and took Muhammad down at the end of the round.
In the third round, Edwards turned the tables on the grappler by securing a takedown and taking Muhammad’s back. The champion tried to lock in a rear-naked choke as Muhammad desperately fought off the attempts for the duration of the round. But that was the only noteworthy moment that Edwards could find in a fight that was solidly in Muhammad’s grasp.
Edwards opened the fourth round stinging Muhammad with a left hook. But Muhammad held his own, landing a combination that got Edwards’ attention before getting another takedown and flipping the script from the previous round. Edwards reversed position with 25 seconds left in the round, but it wasn’t enough to pull the fight even.
With coach Dave Lovell passionately urging him to finish the fight, Edwards sought a fight-ending sequence to retain his title. But Muhammad kept up the pressure and swarmed in for yet another takedown, his ninth of the fight, and again controlled him for nearly the entire round. With time running out, Edwards desperately reversed position and blasted Muhammad with an elbow that opened a gaping cut. It was too little, too late. A new champion was to be crowned in hostile territory.
The loss ended Edwards’ 13-fight unbeaten streak, the first blemish on his record in over eight years.
“He said I’m no Khabib [Nurmagomedov] or Georges St-Pierre. I’m Belal Muhammad,” Muhammad said. “I’m my own man. Now the world knows it and sees it, now they have to respect it. I’m a world champion.”
As ex-President Goodluck Jonathan enters the race for the 2027 election, the political atmosphere is increasingly charged with speculation regarding the possibility of Jonathan winning the race.
Should Jonathan eventually win the election, Nigerian citizens could experience another change of government in many sectors. Click link to continue reading.
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is facing fresh controversy after a Ghanaian player accused him of faking an injury to minimize his playing time with the Nigerian national team.
Asamoah Gyan, a former Ghanaian striker, made this accusation after Osimhen missed Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa on Tuesday. Click link to continue reading.
Osimhen had previously returned to Galatasaray following a leg injury sustained during the Super Eagles’ 1-0 victory over Rwanda in a World Cup qualifier last weekend.
Consequently, the 26-year-old did not participate in Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Bafana Bafana on Tuesday evening at the Free State Stadium.
Galatasaray later issued a statement asserting that Osimhen had suffered an ankle ligament injury.
However, Gyan is skeptical about the legitimacy of the injury.
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He said, “I know these tricks. Someone might have said to Osimhen, ‘Look, we invested a lot of money in you. The Champions League is coming up. We’re not keen on you going to Africa, but go there, play a little, then get injured and act like it’s serious. The next day, you’ll be back in Türkiye.’” Gyan was quoted by habersarikirmizias saying.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has charged the National Sports Commission (NSC) to urgently address the growing problem of age cheating at editions of the National Youth Games (NYG) to safeguard its credibility and ensure fairness.
Oborevwori made the call on Saturday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, during the closing ceremony of the 9th edition of the Games, which he described as a festival of unity, discipline and excellence.
“What began days ago with great excitement has now come to a glorious conclusion. Today, we celebrate not only the medal winners but also the triumph of sportsmanship and national pride that this festival of youth has demonstrated,” the governor said.
He commended the athletes for their resilience, stressing that whether they won medals or not, they had inspired the nation through their courage and determination.
While praising Team Delta for sustaining its tradition of sporting excellence, he said the Games also provided a platform for discovering new talents from across the country.
The governor, however, lamented that the continued practice of states fielding over-aged athletes undermined the vision of the games.
He urged the NSC to urgently introduce stricter measures to restore integrity and ensure the event remains a true nursery of young talents.
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Oborevwori expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, the NSC, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), coaches, officials, and volunteers for their roles in ensuring a smooth and successful outing.
He also thanked the visitors for making Asaba their home during the period the Games lasted, assuring them of Delta’s readiness to host the 10th edition of the Games in 2026, in line with the agreement that gave the state hosting rights for four consecutive editions.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Delta State, I congratulate every participant and wish you safe travels back to your various destinations,” he concluded.
In his remarks, Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, represented by Chief Amaka Asiofu, Director of Grassroots Sports and General Coordinator of the Games, described the Asaba edition as “an incredible experience, marked by fair competition, determination, exciting adventures, and inspirational sportsmanship.”
He praised the Delta State Government for its robust sports development system, noting that the Games had once again provided Nigeria with a fresh pool of athletes who would eventually replace aging national players across various sports.
He assured that the Commission would continue to implement policies to nurture the talents while promoting a sports economic ecosystem that will add value to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Dikko also expressed profound gratitude to Governor Oborevwori, the Federal Government, participating states, sponsors, and stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the Games, while lauding President Tinubu for his unwavering support for sports development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
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In his own remarks, Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Mr Onoriode Oborevwori, said the Games had showcased not only the competitive spirit of Nigerian athletes, but also the values of friendship, resilience, and cooperation.
He thanked the NSC, organizers, and stakeholders for their commitment and called for continued collaboration to drive development and excellence in sports.
Meanwhile, in the final medal table, Lagos State emerged overall winners for the first time, with a total of 110 medals comprising 52 gold, 32 silver, and 26 bronze. Delta State finished second with 114 medals (37 gold, 38 silver, and 39 bronze), while Edo State came third with 79 medals (33 gold, 18 silver, and 28 bronze).
Overall, 33 states won medals at the Games, with a combined total of 802 medals, comprising 246 gold, 236 silver, and 320 bronze.
Favour Ofili, a talented track and field athlete known for her impressive performances in the 100m, 150m, and 200m sprints, announced on Monday that she has officially changed her nationality from Nigeria to Turkey.
The 22-year-old athlete made her announcement through a thoughtful post on her X handle, expressing the significance of this pivotal moment in her career.
Speculation about Ofili’s switch had been circulating since July when it became clear that she was considering a move to the European country, a decision driven by her ongoing struggles with the Nigerian athletics authorities.
A particularly distressing episode occurred during her attempt to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she was unable to participate due to Nigerian Olympic authorities failing to inform her about the essential drug-testing requirements needed for eligibility.
Compounding her frustrations, another administrative error from the Athletics Federation of Nigeria thwarted her aspirations of representing her country in the 100m event at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics; they failed to submit her name by the required deadline.
In her heartfelt series of tweets, Ofili revealed that her journey had been marred by a pattern of negligence and miscommunication, leading her to make the difficult but decisive choice to switch her allegiance in hopes of a brighter and more supportive athletic future in Turkey.
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“Wrapping up my 2025 season has been a whirlwind of new experiences and big decisions. Racing back-to-back across amazing cities and learning from the best has been incredible,” she wrote.
“As some of you have heard, I’m also starting a new chapter representing Turkey.
“I am proud to have represented Nigeria for many years in a highly successful way! Having won SIX gold medals, TWO silver medals and TWO bronze medals in championship meets and a 200 meter Olympic finalist while experiencing the biggest disappointment from AFN and NOC towards me. Negligence towards me in Olympic (Tokyo/Paris). I have made this decision.”
The 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medalist also said financial incentive was not behind her decision to switch allegiance to Turkey.
“While that means sitting out this year’s championship in Tokyo, this change comes from the heart, not from financial motives. I’m truly grateful to have discovered a new home in Turkey,” she added.
Ofili joins the list of high-profile former Nigerian athletes Gloria Alozie and Francis Obikwelu who abandoned Nigerian colours for Spain and Portugal respectively in the 2000s.
In a significant turn of events, Victor Boniface, the talented 24-year-old striker for the Super Eagles, has been left in limbo after his highly anticipated transfer to the esteemed Italian club AC Milan fell through at the last moment.
The aspiring forward had returned to training with high hopes, only to face disappointment when the Serie A giants officially withdrew their interest due to unexpected complications that arose during his medical examinations.
The failed deal has left Boniface visibly upset, as many had regarded this transfer as a pivotal moment in his burgeoning career....Click link for details
Liverpool have reached agreement on a British-record deal to sign striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, according to ESPN.
Premier League champions say they have had a £125 million ($170m) bid accepted to sign the Sweden international, though Newcastle sources state the deal is worth £130m. Click to continue reading
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