Leon Edwards admitted he wasn’t at his peak performance when he lost his UFC welterweight title to Belal Muhammad last July.
Edwards and his coach, Dave Lovell, have discussed the unusual circumstances of that fight, particularly the very late timing of the main event, which started around 5 a.m. local time. Edwards mentioned his reactions felt “slow,” and Lovell claimed he saw only “30 to 40 percent” of Edwards’ usual abilities that night.
Retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown understands the difficulties Edwards faced, as he has also experienced issues affecting his performance in tough losses. However, Brown believes that voicing these issues after a loss can be perceived negatively.
“I understand Leon’s perspective, especially fighting in his home country,” Brown stated on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast. “He’s used to a certain sleep and wake routine. For Belal, coming from another country, everything is new and exciting. Time zone adjustment is necessary for everyone.”
“I can see his point a bit, but it comes back to the same thing: Belal’s victory shouldn’t be diminished. He fought excellently. Dealing with such issues is part of being a fighter. I’ve also been affected by similar things in fights. I recognize it, though I might not say it publicly. It’s real, but it’s part of the fight game.”
There’s a common saying among fighters that you sometimes have to perform your best on your worst days.
Brown knows from his 15 years in the UFC that external factors have often impacted his fights. He learned that wins and losses aren’t always just about skill or talent.
Brown also points out that regardless of how honest Edwards and his coach are being about the loss, the public reaction will likely be critical.
“There’s always a reason for a loss,” Brown explained. “Whatever it is, there’s a cause. But when you verbalize it, it sounds like an excuse, no matter what. It’s unavoidable. It becomes an excuse.”
“In my opinion, it’s better not to say it out loud. Believe me, I’m speaking from experience, every loss I’ve had, I could give valid reasons. Very few times I just thought the other guy was simply better. There’s always contributing factors. You know you could have done better. But saying it out loud sounds like an excuse.”
For Edwards, fighting at an extremely late hour might have cost him his title defense. He was repeatedly taken down and controlled as Muhammad executed a near-perfect strategy.
This loss is undoubtedly painful for Edwards, and Brown understands the need to find reasons for it.
However, Brown thinks publicly discussing it will always reflect poorly.
“Leon, as the champion who lost, will naturally downplay Belal’s performance,” Brown said. “He’s searching for reasons for his loss, and he’s publicly attributing it to the timing. Maybe there are other private reasons. But it’s a plausible explanation for him. Belal might have faced the same issue. Had Belal lost, he might have used the same reasoning.”
“Again, no matter how you phrase it, mentioning it sounds like an excuse. Often, there are genuine reasons for a loss besides the opponent being superior. But it’s best to keep those reasons to yourself.”
Edwards is scheduled to fight Sean Brady on Saturday at a more conventional time. A win could put him back in title contention, while a loss could significantly set him back. This fight gives Edwards a chance to prove his loss to Muhammad was an anomaly, rather than focusing on justifications.
“This fight isn’t life or death, but it has huge implications,” Brown said. “Leon faces a long road back if he loses. The same for Brady. A loss might categorize him as a good fighter who never reached title contention—like myself in some ways. A win for either of them puts them right back in the title conversation.”
