Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards (22-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) is preparing to face Sean Brady (17-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in the main event at UFC London later this month. Edwards had originally been scheduled to fight Jack Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) on that date, but the Australian has now been moved to the UFC 315 card in May where he will challenge Belal Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) for the UFC welterweight title instead.
Della Maddalena's opportunity arose because the division's consensus number-one contender Shavkat Rakhmonov (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is unavailable through injury. Following the resulting reshuffle, Edwards revealed that the UFC have told him that the winner of the UFC London headliner between him and Brady will provide the next challenger for the welterweight strap.
"I spoke to the UFC", Edwards revealed on his YouTube channel this week. "They told me that after this win, this is the (number) one contender fight. Whoever wins this, fights for the title".
Belal Muhammad Rubbishes Edwards' Claims
Belal Muhammad won the title by dominating Edwards over five rounds at UFC 304 last September, and 'Remember The Name' scoffed at any suggestion that Edwards could be close to getting another shot at gold anytime soon.
"I don't know what Leon's thinking", said the welterewight champion during an appearance on Michael Bisping's podcast Believe You Me, "because like, Leon, you have a full three years before you can even think about (fighting for the belt). It's gonna be a long three years of fighting contenders for Leon. Like, I have my guy, the next guy in line, anyway, I think is Shavkat. So I don't think he could skip Shavkat. I wouldn't allow that to even happen with Leon, even if it was the most impressive performance. He could go out there, throw a cartwheel kick, spinning back fist, and then I'm still gonna be like: lol, he still sucks!".
