After losing his UFC welterweight title to Belal Muhammad, Leon Edwards looks to have a monumental impact when he returns to the octagon next year.
'Rocky' dethroned MMA legend Kamaru Usman with a stunning fifth-round finish in 2022 before clinching a majority decision win in their immediate rematch.
Soon after, the 33-year-old cemented his supremacy at 170 lbs with another measured performance that saw him easily surpass top prospect Colby Covington and become one of the UFC's standout fighters last year.
But when Leon Edwards was dominated on the court by Belal Muhammad earlier this year, he was forced to suffer his first defeat in nine years.
Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images
Leon Edwards insists he will become a two-time UFC champion by the end of 2025
Edwards remains one of British MMA's brightest stars, but following his rematch against Muhammed he has remained largely silent about his future in the sport.
The newly crowned champion, meanwhile, is expected to build on his momentum by taking on formidable welterweight contender Shavkhat Rakhmonov on December 7 at UFC 310.
However, Muhammad was eventually forced to withdraw from his main event at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, after suffering a serious injury.
The 36-year-old is now expected to make his first title defense next year, with his next opponent seemingly set to be determined at UFC 310.
Instead of being removed from the upcoming pay-per-view card, Rakhmonov is gearing up to face Ian Garry while still hoping to secure his title shot against Muhammad.
But regardless of how the welterweight situation unfolds, Edwards has confirmed he is aiming to become a two-time UFC champion.
“My goal right now is to get the belt back obviously,” he told Myprotein. “I would love to be champion again by the end of this season [next year]. I feel like I hate losing more than winning.”
Will Leon Edwards face Belal Muhammad or the winner of Shavkhat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Garry?
The winner of Shavkhat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Garry is likely to get a shot at Mohammed once the American returns to action.
This obviously means that Edwards, who could potentially appear on the UFC London card on March 22, will need to regain some activity in his career in the meantime.
But if the Brit gets back in the win column, he could expect a title shot against Muhammad, Rakhmonov or Garry.
Related posts
Comments