Leon Edwards couldn't contain his laughter after learning Belal Muhammad has been compared to boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez.
The welterweight champion will attempt to defend his title in an eagerly anticipated rematch with Muhammad at UFC 304 in Manchester on Saturday night.
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'Rocky' first fought Muhammad in March 2021 and their fight was waved off in round two when Edwards inadvertently poked his rival in the eye.
The American, who is known for his heavy wrestling style, is on a nine-fight win streak and has been calling for a rematch with Edwards ever since.
MMA fans assumed that 'Remember The Name' would try to grapple his way to victory until his striking coach compared him to boxing's undisputed super middleweight champion.
“We have been waiting for this opportunity for a couple of years already," Horacio Gutierrez said.
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"There’s a little unfinished business with Leon. His hands are really, really good right now; they’re sharp, they’re fast.
"We’ve got him the Mexican boxing style. If you guys watch Canelo, all those guys, Belal has hands like that right now.
"So Leon better be ready for that.”
Edwards has been totally blown away by the bizarre comparison.
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“His boxing coach came out and said he’s got hands like Canelo," he said at the UFC 304 media day. What the hell is going on?
"As far as the Canelo thing, I think everyone knows...
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UFC star Leon Edwards pulls off absolutely insane trick shot as he runs past fans in the park
"It’s like what the f***?"
Edwards believes he can become the first British fighter to win UFC belts in two different weight classes and is already eying up a move to 185lbs.
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“I want to move up and challenge for a middleweight belt,” he told talKSPORT MMA ahead of UFC 304.
“I feel like I've got the size [for the middleweight division] and the skill for it so why not chase greatness."