If Leon Edwards is able to defeat Belal Muhammad at UFC 304, lead commentator Jon Anik sees plenty of competition in the future from his own division.
Edwards and Muhammad close the show at Saturday’s pay-per-view event in Manchester. With so much talk about “superfights” and two-division champions, Edwards has joined into the conversations in regards to moving up to 185 pounds and challenging for the middleweight title, or possibility by facing lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
For Anik, as impressive as being on a short list like UFC two-division champs can be, he believes putting together a run of defenses in your own division — and against your own division — is more valuable.
“I’m so happy to get this question and answer a question about Leon Edwards’ legacy, and not necessarily about a superfight,” Anik told MMA Fighting. “Because all of these guys, monetarily, if that’s a big deal and the difference, deserve that superfight, but Kamaru Usman is a legend with crazy ice on his left wrist and a great checking account balance, I’m sure, because he didn’t move up, because he sustained and continued to defend in the welterweight division and chase records.
“So oftentimes, I think dynasties and long-reigning champions are really how legacies are made. And I think Leon Edwards, potentially, is on the cusp of that.”
Edwards captured the title with an insane fifth-round knockout of Usman at UFC 278 in August 2022, and has since defended the belt successfully against Usman, as well as former interim champ Colby Covington.
Anik understands how impressive those wins are, along with Edwards’ near-decade long unbeaten streak. But adding some of the rising names in a loaded talent pool at 170 can potentially take Edwards to a top-tier level.
“The type of scalps that he could leave in his wake — like the ever deserving Belal Muhammad, and potentially the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov, [who] is all the rage with men and women alike,” Anik said. “Or Ian Machado Garry, who is brash, but probably as good as every word that comes out of his mouth, [or] Jack Della Madalena with an entire country that absolutely eats this sport three meals a day behind it. It’s a tremendous time to be Leon Edwards.”
Edwards is a sizable favorite to retain his title against Muhammad — who, like Edwards, is in the midst of a double-digit fight unbeaten streak. “Remember the Name” gets his first shot at UFC gold after dominating past title challenger Gilbert Burns in his most recent outing at UFC 288 in May 2023.
Anik, who calls Saturday’s action on the broadcast alongside former champs Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping, is quite fascinated in Edwards continuing his long-term résumé-building process, along with the matchup with Muhammad.
“If you believe in Leon, the way I do skill for skill, there’s no reason why he wouldn’t be favored to beat all of these amazing fighters,” Anik explained. “So excited to see what he can do.
“It stands to reason that we’re getting the best versions of both of these guys [at UFC 304], and I can’t f*cking wait.”