UFC Fight Night 187: Edwards vs. Muhammad | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Daniel Cornmeat
- May 21
- 6 min read
Introduction
UFC Fight Night 187: Edwards vs. Muhammad took place on March 13, 2021 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas — UFC Vegas 21. The card was headlined by one of the most anticipated welterweight bouts of early 2021: Leon Edwards, returning after over 600 days away due to the pandemic, facing Belal Muhammad in a match originally intended to be Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev — a fight that had been cancelled three times due to COVID-19.
The main event ended controversially: an accidental eye poke by Edwards in round two left Muhammad unable to continue, with the bout ruled a No Contest. Edwards had been performing well before the incident. The undercard was among the most finished of the year — three main card bouts ended by KO, with Ryan Spann, Dan Ige, and Davey Grant all producing first or second-round stoppages. The Reebok sponsorship deal also came to an end with this event.
Contents
Quick Stats
📅 Date: Saturday, March 13, 2021
📍 Venue: UFC Apex, Enterprise, Nevada, USA (UFC Vegas 21)
👥 Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors — COVID-19 pandemic)
📺 Broadcast: ESPN+ (UFC on ESPN+ 45) | Final event under Reebok sponsorship deal
🏆 Main Event: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad — Welterweight
☠️ Result: No Contest (Accidental Eye Poke) — Round 2, 0:18
🥇 Champion: Title not on the line | Originally: Edwards vs. Chimaev (3rd cancellation)
The Build-Up
Leon Edwards had been waiting for a fight for over 600 days. His last bout was a win over Rafael dos Anjos in July 2019, after which he was scheduled to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC Fight Night 183 (December 2020). Chimaev tested positive for COVID-19. Edwards did too. A second booking was cancelled when Chimaev again pulled out. A third attempt was made — also cancelled. By March 2021, Belal Muhammad was confirmed as his opponent, and Edwards was finally back.
Edwards entered with an eight-fight win streak and was riding a wave of enormous frustration: talented enough to be ranked inside the top five but unable to get fights. Muhammad was a dangerous replacement, having won four straight and fighting just a month before. The undercard also featured Dan Ige vs. Gavin Tucker in a high-profile featherweight matchup and Ryan Spann in the co-main.
Main Event: Edwards vs. Muhammad
Round one was competitive and showcased Edwards without rust: he landed a big head kick that dropped Muhammad and had the better of the striking exchanges across the round. Muhammad survived and showed his durability, nearly securing a takedown late. Both men appeared ready for a full five-round war.
Just 18 seconds into round two, Edwards threw what appeared to be a cross that instead caught Muhammad in the eye with his finger. Muhammad immediately dropped to the floor in clear and visible pain, clutching his eye. The ringside doctor and referee examined the injury. Muhammad was unable to continue. Referee Herb Dean called the fight off and the bout was ruled a No Contest due to an accidental foul. Edwards was visibly heartbroken and apologised immediately, saying he’d rather take a loss than have it end that way. Muhammad later confirmed the eye was not permanently damaged.
Co-Main Event: Spann vs. Cirkunov
Ryan Spann delivered a first-round TKO of Misha Cirkunov at 1:11 with explosive punches, earning himself a Performance of the Night bonus. The finish was a statement win for Spann in the light heavyweight division, confirming him as a top-15 contender and one of the division’s more dangerous finishing threats.
Full Results
Main Card
Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad — No Contest (Accidental Eye Poke) (Round 2, 0:18)
Ryan Spann def. Misha Cirkunov — TKO (Punches) (Round 1, 1:11) — Performance of the Night
Dan Ige def. Gavin Tucker — KO (Punch) (Round 1, 0:22) — Performance of the Night
Davey Grant def. Jonathan Martinez — KO (Punch) (Round 2, 3:03) — Performance of the Night
Matheus Nicolau def. Manel Kape — Decision (Split) (Round 3, 5:00)
Preliminary Card
Matthew Semelsberger def. opponent — Finish — Performance of the Night
Charles Jourdain def. Marcelo Rojo — Finish (Round 1)
Bonuses & Awards
No Fight of the Night bonus was awarded. Four Performance of the Night bonuses recognised the card’s best individual performances.
🏆 Performance of the Night: Ryan Spann ($50,000) — TKO of Misha Cirkunov, Round 1, 1:11
🏆 Performance of the Night: Dan Ige ($50,000) — KO of Gavin Tucker, Round 1, 0:22
🏆 Performance of the Night: Davey Grant ($50,000) — KO of Jonathan Martinez, Round 2, 3:03
🏆 Performance of the Night: Matthew Semelsberger ($50,000)
Records & Milestones
🥊 FN 187 was the final event held under the Reebok sponsorship deal, which had run since July 2015. The deal, which replaced fighter’s individual sponsors with standardised UFC/Reebok fight kits and pay tiers, ended after this card. Subsequent events moved to the Venum partnership.
🥊 Leon Edwards’ NC result extended his official unbeaten run in the UFC to nine fights (eight wins, one no contest). It was the latest chapter in his frustrating run of events since 2019.
🥊 Dan Ige’s 22-second KO of the highly-regarded Gavin Tucker was one of the fastest upsets in recent featherweight history. Tucker had been 4-0 in the UFC before the loss.
Legacy & Impact
UFC Fight Night 187 is remembered for an unavoidably unsatisfying conclusion to its main event and an extraordinary undercard. The eye poke that ended Edwards vs. Muhammad was one of the worst accidental fouls in recent UFC history — grotesque enough that Dana White posted a close-up photo of the moment. It left both fighters without resolution: Edwards without the win his performance suggested he was building toward, and Muhammad without an outcome.
In retrospect, FN 187 was a significant moment in both fighters’ careers: Edwards’ next fight was against Nate Diaz at UFC 263, and Muhammad’s continued winning streak eventually made him a title challenger. Their rematch at UFC 304 in July 2024 produced the welterweight championship, with Muhammad winning the title. FN 187 also marked the end of the Reebok era in UFC history.
FAQ
What happened during the Edwards vs. Muhammad eye poke?
At 18 seconds into round two, Edwards threw a strike that caught Muhammad directly in the eye with his finger. Dana White later posted a close-up image of the moment that showed the severity of the contact. Muhammad was in visible pain and fell to the canvas. The ringside physician examined the injury and determined Muhammad could not continue safely. Referee Herb Dean ruled the bout a No Contest under the accidental foul regulations.
Why had Edwards vs. Chimaev been booked so many times?
Edwards vs. Chimaev was scheduled three separate times. At UFC Fight Night 183 (December 2020), both tested positive for COVID-19 and were removed. A second booking fell through when Chimaev had a prolonged battle with COVID-19 symptoms. A third attempt was again derailed by COVID-related issues. By the time FN 187 came around, Chimaev’s health made the booking impossible and Muhammad stepped in instead.
What is the Reebok deal and why did it end at FN 187?
The UFC’s exclusive apparel partnership with Reebok ran from July 2015 to March 2021. Under the deal, fighters were required to wear UFC-branded Reebok fight kits and received tiered sponsorship pay based on their UFC tenure. The deal replaced individual fighter sponsorships, which many fighters found financially detrimental. FN 187 was the final event under the Reebok contract. The UFC subsequently signed a partnership with Venum, which began at the next event.
Did Edwards and Muhammad ever fight again?
Yes. Edwards and Muhammad met for the second time at UFC 304 in Manchester, England in July 2024, with the UFC Welterweight Championship on the line. Muhammad won the title by unanimous decision. The NC at FN 187 made their eventual rematch one of the most anticipated title fights in welterweight history.
How significant was Dan Ige’s 22-second KO of Gavin Tucker?
Gavin Tucker was 4-0 in the UFC and considered one of the most well-rounded featherweights in the division. Ige’s 22-second KO of him was a genuine upset and one of the fastest finishes in featherweight history. Tucker was heartbroken by the result, publicly calling it a devastating setback. Ige received a Performance of the Night bonus.
References
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