Jorge Masvidal and Leon Edwards will have to wait a little longer to settle their beef. Sources close to Masvidal told MMAFighting.com that “Gamebred” has sustained an unidentified injury that will keep him out of the Octagon in December.
Masvidal and Edwards have long been at one another’s throats, ever since a minor altercation two years back in London.
Jorge Masvidal OUT of UFC 269, Khamzat Offers to Replace him
That evening, Masvidal, during a post-fight interview in which he discussed his victory over Darren Till, exchanged some heated words with Leon Edwards as “Rocky” walked past. The exchange quickly escalated, with Masvidal throwing a few punches before the two were separated.
They’ve exchanged barbs on social media ever since, and it looked like they were getting the chance to settle the score on December 11. Alas, the fight has been scrapped.
This, of course, leaves perennial welterweight contender Leon Edwards, who is currently riding a ten-fight win streak, without an opponent.
Although the UFC has not confirmed this state of events yet, it was widely assumed that a win over Masvidal for Edwards would seal his shot at Kamaru Usman and the welterweight title. Usman’s most recent title defense was less than a week ago at UFC 268, so the fighters’ timelines would sync up for a title fight.
Edwards will no doubt want to fight, as he has long been gunning for a rematch against Kamaru Usman. Usman defeated Edwards on his way to the top, and neither fighter has lost since.
That’s where Khamzat Chimaev, the UFC’s upstart, steps in. Khamzat is eager to fight, as shown by his rapid succession of fights last year at UFC Fight Island. Chimaev is 10-0 in professional MMA, and just submitted Li Jingliang in the first round at UFC 267. Chimaev Tweeted headshots of himself and Edwards with the caption “Let’s go bro we do it”.
Brett Okamoto spoke to Khamzat’s manager, who said Chimaev has been pestering him for a fight every day since his victory over Jingliang.
“Spoke to Khamzat Chimaev’s (@KChimaev) manager Majdi Shammas. Too early to know what is going to happen, but Khamzat has been asking him for a fight every day since UFC 267. Just texted him when he saw news of Masvidal’s withdrawal. “Call UFC now, we travel tomorrow.”
Chimaev and Edwards have been booked to fight three times now, with the bout cancelled all three times. Chimaev only recently recovered from a nasty bout of COVID-19, and before that Edwards tested positive for the same virus. If the two can get together next month, it will certainly take the edge off missing out on Edwards vs Masvidal.
A fight between Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev might even decide who gets a run at Kamaru Usman next. Chimaev’s promise to take over the division might come true sooner than we all thought.
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