UFC star Belal Muhammad got a hero’s welcome as he drove down Wilmslow Road following his shock win over Birmingham-based fighter Leon Edwards this weekend.
In a blockbuster night of combat sports at the Co-op Live, the first time the promotion has returned to Manchester since 2016, the American mixed martial artist stunned those inside the arena and watching at home with a huge victory over the Jamaican-born Brit.
Clinching the welterweight title with a dominant display against Edwards, who saw his 12-fight unbeaten streak brought to an end, it was arguably the biggest story of the highly anticipated fight card.
Neither of the fighters are from the area but judging by the scenes along Wilmslow Road following the fight, you’d be forgiven for thinking Belal Muhammad was a Manc through and through.
As you can see from the images above, the 36-year-old and his entourage suddenly found themselves swarmed by hordes of fans and shutting down a significant stretch of Rusholme.
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You’ll find Curry Mile bustling pretty much every week in 0161 but it’s very few people that can effectively lock off a good chunk of one of Greater Manchester’s busiest roads like this – especially when Edwards was one of three big-name UK fighters being backed on the night.
The pair had faced each other previously back in 2021 but the bout ultimately had to be stopped after an accidental eye poke by the Brummy.
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Nevertheless, the question of who would come out on top was finally answered and in convincing fashion, with Muhammad throwing and out-clinching his opponent for the majority of the match before getting the win in the fifth round.
The result produced some memorable scenes out on the streets long after the referee’s decision, with the Chicago fighter of Palestinian heritage getting a rousing reception from south Manchester residents.
okay this video of Belal Muhammad riding through Manchester in Palestine colours with the belt goes kind of hard pic.twitter.com/JdJs1IgAq2
Speaking after the fight, Muhammad told the media that he was tired coming into the fight, not that it ended up being a problem, going on to definitely declare: “I’m no Khabib [Nurmagomedov], I’m no GSP [Georges St-Pierre] I’m Belal Muhammad.”
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Elsewhere, in a similarly bold statement, homegrown hero Tom Aspinall signed off his first heavyweight title defence by calling out UFC legend Jon Jones.
Tributes paid as Curzon Ashton FC founder Harry Twamley dies following a ‘long illness’
Danny Jones
Tributes are pouring as local team Curzon Ashton FC have confirmed that club founder Harry Twamley BEM has sadly passed awayat the age of 82.
Based in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, the National League North side shared the news on Wednesday morning, with fans across the region as well as up and down the English footballing pyramid paying their respects.
Posting on social media, the Curzon Ashton official accounts wrote: “It is with deep regret that we announce that Harry Twamley (BEM) passed away after a long illness.”
“Our condolences are expressed to Richard and Jayne and to the rest of his family at this time.”
While they explained that a full statement will be shared online in the coming days, the initial announcement on the club website featured heartfelt words from former club chairman Wayne Salkeld, who took over from Twamley back in the 2018/19 season, spending five years at the helm.
Salkeld said: “It’s a sad day for everyone at the club. I was honoured when Harry asked me to become chairman in 2018/19 and I will never forget that day.
“I’m going to miss our phone calls which were every day. Thanks for the memories and we will work hard to keep your legacy going.”
Curzon Ashton director Oliver Newall also shared a touching tribute to the club founder, who set up the club back in 1963, adding: “What an incredible man. Someone who brought Curzon Ashton into the world and whom without we would not have had so many amazing moments and memories.
“The word legend gets thrown around too often… Harry Twamley was a legend and he will be missed so much.” He was joined by numerous fans and other clubs in offering their condolences.
Other teams paying tribute included Salford City, Saddleworth Cricket Club and nearby non-league outfit, FC United of Manchester.
The lattermost wrote: “From all at FC United, we would like to pay our respects to a legend of the game in Greater Manchester, we ground-shared at Curzon Ashton and saw first-hand what an immense character Harry was.”
Twamley was named in Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s Honours list back in 2017 and awarded an Order of the British Empire medal for his services to amateur football. Our thoughts go out to his friends, family, The Nash and their supporters.
Rest in peace to an important local figure and treasured champion of the grassroots game.
Manchester City is looking for ‘diehard fans’ to be part of a new documentary series
Emily Sergeant
Manchester City is looking for some diehard fans to be part of a new documentary series by sharing their love for the club.
The Sky Blues are no stranger to a documentary, having had several successful series and feature-length shows air on Amazon Prime, Netflix, and the club’s own online TV platform CITY+, over the past couple of years – drawing in millions of viewers across the globe each time.
But now, it sounds like there’s another one in the works… and you could be a part of it.
The football club is looking for families with four generations of supporters to share their special memories of following Manchester City down the years.
📣 We’re looking for diehard fans to share their special City memories for an exciting new documentary series!
On top of this, the club is also keen to find fan videos that can help take documentary viewers into the stands from a City fan’s perspective, and is asking that people get in touch and send footage that they’ve taken of some of the club’s most famous moments from over the years – including reactions to Sergio Aguero’s famous goal against QPR in 2012, and the Treble-winning season.
Footage could also be submitted from other important milestones such as the 1999 play off final, or from things like random away days in the 1980s, or even City-themed kids’ birthday parties from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
No matter whether the footage was taken on a mobile phone, old-school video camera, or something similar, it could come in useful.
Manchester City is looking for ‘diehard fans’ to be part of a new documentary series / Credit: Manchester City
The only condition is that all footage submitted by fans must be their own, and not recordings from commercial media, or copied from YouTube or any other media/social media outlets.
Keen to be a part of the production then?
If you would like you and your family to be considered for the documentary, then you can email [email protected] with your details and stories about supporting City.