Muhammad confirms backup for UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington

In an intriguing turn of events ahead of UFC 296, Belal Muhammad has confirmed his role as the backup fighter for the main event featuring Leon Edwards and Colby Covington. Muhammad, who recently extended his unbeaten streak to 10 fights, is prepared to step in should the need arise.

The bout marks UFC’s final major event of 2023, set to be held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and will be broadcast on pay-per-view. UFC CEO Dana White had previously indicated that Muhammad would be in line for a welterweight title shot following his victory over Gilbert Burns at UFC 288. He is now gearing up to be battle-ready in case either of the contenders is forced to bow out.

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Muhammad, currently ranked number 3 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie welterweight rankings, expresses his readiness: “I’ve been training all this while, just in case something happens.” His presence adds an extra layer of excitement to the face-off between Edwards (20-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) and Covington (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC), both vying for the welterweight belt.

Muhammad’s role as a backup fighter highlights a unique occurrence in UFC’s history, where the services of a standby might actually be required. What does this mean for the future of UFC and its fighters? Let’s look forward to an exhilarating match and potentially an unexpected turn at UFC 296.