In a bizarre turn of events, Chael Sonnen is claiming that Conor McGregor is being fast-tracked to the UFC welterweight title. Sonnen took to his YouTube channel to declare that welterweight contender Leon Edwards was asked to step aside to give the Irishman a shot at 170-pound gold.
“I am being told that Leon has been offered his show and his win, whatever was negotiated for Leon to fight Kamaru Usman is being offered to him.
Sonnen Claims Leon Edwards Was Offered “Show and Win” Money To Step Aside for McGregor, Edwards Responds
‘We will mail you a cheque to step aside. We have the right to push you aside, we don’t want any hard feelings. And, we acknowledge that you deserve this. So, we are going to send you what you agreed on and you get to stay home.’
With the belief being that Conor’s gonna step in.” Sonnen covered his bases with the rumor, adding that the “moving parts” in the UFC matchmaking game make predictions very tricky indeed.
“I don’t believe this rumour by the way, I’m just sharing with you, anytime you don’t have something locked up… Leon [vs Kamaru] is not done. There are some real moving parts there, quite frankly I don’t know if we are going to see Kamaru Usman fight in two years from now.”
Leon Edwards has waited a long time for his chance to fight Kamaru Usman. Edwards’ last career loss came at Usman’s hands, way back in 2015. Since then, Leon Edwards has won nine fights in a row, excluding a no-contest ruling when he faced Belal Muhammad.
Leon Edwards, predictably, dismissed Sonnen’s rumor mill via Twitter: “chael what the f*ck you on about”
Leon Edwards won’t want to step aside for the former two-division champion. However, it wouldn’t be the first time McGregor was offered a title shot without the record in the division to earn it. Conor himself has been eyeing a return to competition once he recovers from the broken leg he sustained fighting Dustin Poirier last year. McGregor wants to fight for a title once again, specifically citing Kamaru Usman as his main target.
“I believe myself vs. Usman for the 170-pound title for my comeback fight is the one I’m eyeballing at the minute. I’ve gotten myself down to a lightweight frame, but I’m big now. I feel big, I feel strong, I feel healthy, I’ve got good energy. Coming back after a gruesome injury, I do not want to deplete myself.
There’s no need to deplete myself. And I feel confident against Usman – a jab-happy, sloppy orthodox wrestler with no submissions whatsoever. What’s he gonna do? Where’s the danger here? I don’t see a danger with him.”
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