Leon Edwards volleys INCREDIBLE trickshot with basketball while out on a jog ahead of UFC 304 title defence

• Fighter will defend his welterweight belt against Belal Muhammad on Saturday

This is the jaw-dropping moment British UFC champion Leon Edwards kicks an incredible basketball trickshot while on a jog in the park.

The once-in-a-lifetime volley comes just days before his highly anticipated welterweight title defence at UFC 304 against American fighter Belal Muhammad on Saturday night.

His last fight saw him beat Colby Covington to retain his belt in a dominant display in Las Vegas in December.

Now footage has emerged of the trickshot which begins with Edwards casually taking a run through the park.

In the distance cries of ‘Leon!’ can be heard and the UFC champion, wearing bright red shorts and a black hoodie, responds to his adoring fans by giving them a thumbs up as he continues his workout.

As he crosses a playground he arrives at the basketball court where the group, who continue to call his name, are playing.

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The MMA fighter raises his arms in the air and appears to say, ‘Go on then! Go on!’ as he interrupts his jog to stride onto the court.

One of the participants than throws him the basketball, inviting the champion to show off his hoop skills.

But instead Edwards, from Birmingham, provides a barely believable moment of brilliance and hits the ball on the volley just before it bounces.

The champion strikes it perfectly and it flies through the air and into the net some 30 yards away. 

The breathtaking trickshot sends the crowd into raptures with everyone, including Edwards, running around and screaming in amazement.

The fighter then faces towards the camera and points to his head in celebration.

After the clip emerged, social media was awash with differing opinions on whether the clip was real or fake, with some suggesting the footage might be edited.

Wade Plemons posted on X: ‘Surely no one think this is actually real lol.’

Another user added: ‘ I love AI.’

Meanwhile IpoArena said: ‘Naw that looks fake brother.’

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Others backed the welterweight champion’s skills and argued that the video was genuine.

One user posted: ‘The way he casually punted the ball and it goes in.’ 

Another said: ‘Unironically a better highlight than winning a belt.’

A third said: ‘Insane left power didn’t even look near full throttle lol.’

Meanwhile, one X user accepted the clip was real but was sceptical about the idea that Edwards had pulled off the trick first time.

They said: ‘Yes just have a camera on him the whole time … most likely wasn’t first attempt and this is obviously rehearsed multiple times.’

Edwards was confirmed to be headlining the upcoming UFC 304 fight card in May and the champion will put his belt on the line against a fighter who has not tasted defeat in his last 10 bouts. 

Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall will be taking on Curtis Blaydes in the co-main event. 

The clash will be a rematch from two years ago when the British fighter sustained a knee injury.

Fight fans across the country were sent into frenzy after the UFC confirmed in April that it would make its highly-anticipated return to Manchester.

The organisation revealed that they’ve booked their first pay-per-view event in the north of England since 2016.

The huge card will be the first sporting event to be held at the £365million Co-op Live arena – the largest indoor entertainment venue in the UK.

However, despite the excitement of a return to England for the UFC, fans will have to deal with a late night – with the main card set to begin at 3am BST.