The UFC welterweight champion, Leon Edwards, has a few ideas as to who he’d like to fight next. Edwards discussed his next move in a recent interview with Sky Sports, listing both Conor McGregor and Jorge Masivdal as potential opponents, detailing exactly why they would – or would not – work out for him.
First of all, Edwards seemed very open to the prospect of facing “The Notorious”. “Conor would be one that would be easy to make. We’re managed by the same management team. I think for me, whoever comes, comes.”
Leon Edwards: McGregor Fight “Easy To Make”, Explains Why Masvidal is “Difficult”
Leon Edwards claimed the UFC welterweight title with a stunning upset victory over Kamaru Usman. Edwards defeated Usman via a thunderous fifth-round head kick. Although no booking has been made yet, it seems that a rematch for the former champion is the most likely candidate for Edwards’ first title defense.
Failing that, however, Leon Edwards has a score to settle with Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal. Unfortunately for “Rocky,” Jorge Masvidal’s abysmal record in his last three fights might prove to be a barrier. Masvidal challenged for the welterweight title against Usman twice, losing the second attempt via knockout. After that, he faced Colby Covington, who dominated “Gamebred” for five rounds. A three-fight losing streak isn’t the stuff that title aspirations are made of.
“Masvidal is the one I definitely want to have, but because he keeps losing it’s difficult to make it make sense for the company, you know, even for the fans, to sell it. I know it’ll probably sell as far as the back story of it.
If Masvidal goes out and gets a big win, then that’s a fight that I want. I even said it: I’ll give him the (title shot) before that and my coach was like, ‘Nah, he doesn’t deserve it.’ But I was acting out of emotions. So whoever comes, No. 1 contenders or money fights, for me, it doesn’t matter. I believe that I am the best.”
Of course, Conor McGregor, too, is riding a losing streak, albeit one only two fights long, rather than three. McGregor is still recovering from the broken leg he sustained fighting Dustin Poirier in July last year, but has recently confirmed that his return to the UFC will take place at welterweight. Whether McGregor will make good on his promise to claim a third UFC belt, a feat never before achieved, remains to be seen, but Leon Edwards seems happy to grant the Irishman the opportunity to do so.
Who do you think we’ll see Leon Edwards fight next? Let us know in the comments.
