‘Keep Your Word And Defend Your Title’

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

That was fast.

Not long after Belal Muhammad upset Leon Edwards to capture the welterweight strap in the UFC 304 pay-per-view (PPV) main event, which took place last Sat. night (July 27, 2024) at Co-op Live in Manchester, England, “Remember the Name” was already getting called out by No. 3-ranked title contender Shavkat Rakhmonov.

“Congratulations on your well-deserved victory,” Rakhmonov wrote on Twitter. “I hope you keep your word and defend your title against me when you’re ready, champ.”

The undefeated Rakhmonov (18-0), who has 18 finishes in 18 wins, is coming off a submission victory over former title challenger Stephen Thompson at UFC 296. The only fighters ranked above him at the time of this writing are Muhammad, Edwards, and former 170-pound champion Kamaru Usman.

Ranked below him are Colby Covington, Jack Della Maddalena, Gilbert Burns, and Ian Machado Garry, in that order. Covington and Burns have both come up short in previous championship challenges and will not be considered for Muhammad’s first title defense.

In addition, Edwards is unlikely to score an immediate rematch based on his UFC 304 performance. UFC CEO, Dana White, shrugged his shoulders and said their five-round title bout “wasn’t a barnburner” at the UFC 304 post-fight press conference.

He’s not wrong.

That means matchmakers have to decide if Rakhmonov has been more impressive in recent fights than Maddalena (17-2) and Garry (15-0). Maddalena is coming off a knockout victory over Burns at UFC 299 while Garry captured a decision win against Michael Page at UFC 300.

Muhammad vs. Rakhmonov and Maddalena vs. Garry?

For complete UFC 304: “Edwards vs. Belal 2” results and play-by-play, click HERE!