Demetrious Johnson caught some strays from the new UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad after UFC 304 in July.

Going into the promotion’s return to Manchester, England, the former champion Leon Edwards was a decent favorite at -298 odds in the Muhammad rematch. At times, it felt like Muhammad, the +240 underdog, was never going to get his long-awaited title shot no matter how many fights he won in a row.

It was always inevitable to the Chicago native that he’d become a world champion. So, while the unanimous decision get-back victory over “Rocky” was no surprise to him, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t for others.

Predicting the fight during fight week, fighters like former champions Kamaru Usman, Alexander Volkanovski, and Johnson doubted “Remember the Name.” Those first two quickly responded to Muhammad. Both of which are open to fighting Muhammad. Yes, the former featherweight champion will take on anyone. However, the record-holding 11-time flyweight title-defending “Mighty Mouse” recently stood his ground as well.

“He didn’t agree with my analysis, which is fine. He said I suck,” Johnson laughed on JAXXON PODCAST. “When I analyze a fight, it’s just like — could you imagine Tom Brady, he’s one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time, multiple Super Bowl rings. As you look at me, if I was to compare myself to Tom Brady, I have 15 world title fights, successful victories. Where he’s had, what? Six Super Bowl rings? Seven?

“Obviously, the game is going to change over time, but he’s an analyst now. So, he’s gonna give his thoughts of what this quarterback should do. Now, if the quarterback goes, ‘Nah, I wouldn’t have done that.’ Then he can go, ‘Well, I would have done that.’ Then people are gonna look at him like, ‘Okay, Tom Brady has six f*ckin’ Super Bowl rings, you haven’t even won one yet. You just got to the f*ckin’ dance.’ I think people are going to side with — not saying Tom Brady is right, but he’s gonna have more pull than the other person.”

Johnson, 38, is effectively semi-retired at this stage in his career as the ONE Championship 135-pound flyweight champion. The all-time great has noted that he isn’t officially retired just yet but has no interest in any MMA fights right now.

This past weekend, Johnson competed in the blackbelt ranks of the IBJJF World Masters Championships, winning his way to the finals in his first three matches before suffering an armbar loss to Tomoya Yanagisawa.

---

TOP STORIES

Recap. DWCS Season 8, Week 4 results: Outrageous knockout among five contracts awarded by Dana White

$$$. Renan Ferreira: Francis Ngannou ‘has my respect’ for negotiating $2 million pay for PFL opponents

Reflection. Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals ‘it was my plan’ to make Dustin Poirier go for guillotine to set up finish

Crazy. Alex Pereira willing to cut ‘one more time’ to middleweight to face Dricus du Plessis; ‘DDP’ responds

Confidence. Jake Paul says there’s no back-up opponent for ‘thick and strong’ Mike Tyson on Nov. 15

Veteran. Joe Lauzon: ‘Probably likely that I won’t fight again’ but still not retiring from UFC

---

LET’S WATCH

MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Alex K. Lee react to Alex Pereira teasing a return to middleweight.

Sound & Pound.

UFC Journey: Burns vs. Brady.

Jamahal Hill’s contract-earning moment.

Full fights.

Durinho fight week.

O’Malley the Cardinal.

Poatan down under.

---

MORNING MUSIC

Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or find one of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re currently really into. I’ll pick the best one alongside my daily choice and give you a shoutout! You can also share in the comments below — those are just harder to sift through sometimes!

This month’s full playlist:

---

SOCIAL SCROLL DOWN

Oh.

Turmoil.

Shadow realm.

Make the fight.

Deals.

---

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Matt Schnell (16-8) vs. Cody Durden (16-6-1); UFC Vegas 97, Sept. 7

Édgar Cháirez (11-5) vs. Joshua Van (10-2); Noche UFC, Sept. 14

Bruno Silva (23-11) vs. Ismail Naurdiev (23-7); UFC 308, Oct. 26

Brandon Moreno (21-8-2) vs. Amir Albazi (17-1); UFC Edmonton, Nov. 2

---

FINAL THOUGHTS

Natty Ice fight weeks are the best fight weeks. Excited for the one-two punch atop UFC Vegas 97, which is a great thing to be able to say. I’m curious to see how you guys are feeling about the predictions below.

Thanks for reading!

---

EXIT POLL

---

If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.