The fight is the event’s second scheduled headliner after Edwards was to face Khamzat Chimaev. Lingering symptoms from a bout with COVID-19 forced Chimaev to withdraw from the event, and Muhammad stepped into the bout on a little less than one month’s notice.
Edwards declined to wait and rebook the fight against Chimaev after its third cancellation, no doubt due to his own luck with COVID-19. The pandemic has kept the Brit standout out of action since July 2019, when he outpointed ex-welterweight champ Rafael dos Anjos to pick up his eighth straight win. A bout with ex-champ Tyron Woodley was cancelled in March, and from there, the wait for a title shot and cancelled bouts with Chimaev extended an involuntary layoff. UFC President Dana White has promised Edwards a title shot with a win.
Hoping to spoil Edwards’ coronation is Muhammad, whose career took a sharp uptick following a win over Dhiego Lima that followed his own bout with COVID-19. Muhammad has won his past four fights against unranked competition.
Check out the UFC Vegas 21 live blog below.
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