Watch Dana White separate Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad as the pair heat up their UFC 304 showdown

LEON EDWARDS and Belal Muhamad took part in an incredibly close final clash before their rematch.

The duo renews their rivalry in the early hours of this Sunday, in the main fight of UFC 304, in Manchester.

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But this time, Brit Edwards will face the Palestinian-American as the welterweight king.

Their first meeting, just over three years ago, ended prematurely due to an accidental poke from Edwards.

Tensions have been rising between the pair ever since, with Muhammad accusing the Brummie of doing everything in his power. power to avoid a rematch with him.

The pair, aged 32 and 36 respectively, had to be separated by UFC supremo Dana White during Thursday night’s post-press conference.

And they had an equally heated showdown after the ceremonial weigh-in on Friday night.

Muhammad left to a chorus of boos, but absorbed the atmosphere created by the hostile crowd at the Cooperative Live arena.

Chants of “Rocky, Rocky, Rocky” echoed throughout the arena as Edwards walked onto the stage and walked to the scales.

Neither man had trouble making weight at the official weigh-ins earlier in the day, with Edwards coming in at 170 pounds and Muhammad at 169 pounds.

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And they faced each other once again after completing the ceremonial act of stepping onto the scales for the fans.

Muhammad was almost finished off by a violent barrage of strikes in his meeting with Edwards after being hit by a head kick in the first round.

Edwards reckons the fight would have ended with his hand raised if he hadn’t poked Muhammad in the right eye.

But Muhammad told SunSport: “I hope he leaves with the same mentality. “I hope he thinks it will be an easy fight.

“Even in that first fight, when you’re going back and watching it, he had a moment. It was a kick to the head.

“There was nothing else in that first round where you thought, ‘Oh, this is a 10-8 round.’

“It was still a 10-9 round on the judges’ scorecards. He outplayed me by six hits.

“And that was before, you know, Leon was away for two years before that. So for us it was, ‘Let’s see what Leon comes out with. [with].

“’Let’s see what Leon shows up today, what he’s going to bring, what new style he brings.’

“So it was to start at a slow pace. I hope he thinks, ‘Okay, let’s follow suit.’

“And I’m even saying to myself, ‘I want to come out here and lose the first round against Leon in this fight just to show him – okay, you won the first round now, see what I do in the next four.’ “

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