Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards still has the man who dethroned him firmly in his crosshairs.
Edwards (22-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) held the title for a period of almost 2 years between 2022-2024, before coming up short in the main event at UFC 304 last July against Belal Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) over 5 rounds.
Edwards had been scheduled to face Jack Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in the main event at UFC London next week before an injury to the division's no. 1 contender Shavkat Rakhmonov forced UFC matchmakers into somewhat of a reshuffle. Instead of facing Edwards at the 02 Arena, Della Maddalena has been promoted to a welterweight title fight against Muhammad at UFC 315 in May, while "Rocky" will now face Sean Brady (17-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in London instead.
Edwards Has One Eye On The Title Fight
Less than 2 weeks out from his return, Edwards has been discussing who he might want to face next, should he get past Sean Brady on March 22nd.
"I'd love to run it back with Belal, you know?" Edwards said in a video posted to his YouTube channel. "I feel like it's difficult to say he wins (against Della Maddalena). Like I said, I’d probably prefer Belal because he was the last guy to defeat me, you know, and even though I had an off-night, I feel like that’s one I need to get back, you know.
"I truly believe that I’m the better fighter between me and him, and I’ve got to go out there and prove it again. But now I’m focusing on Sean, focusing on Sean Brady right now, and I’ve got to go out there in London, get rid of him, and once I get rid of him, then a title shot is next for me".
