UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards has a score to settle with Jorge Masvidal. Unfortunately, with Masvidal riding a three-fight losing streak, and Edwards reigning at the top of the division, it’s not likely they’ll get the chance to face one another unless “Gamebred” returns to winning ways. Edwards appeared on Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast to discuss why he’s “rooting for” Masvidal to string together some big wins, and how he expects the rematch to go against Kamaru Usman.
“I don’t like him that much, but I’m rooting for him to win so I can fight him. He just keeps losing so it’s hard to make the fight make sense. I even said if he went out there and fought in like December, January … Gilbert [Burns] or somebody, beat one of them, then I’ll fight you in March. Then get Usman in the Summer or something. Let him rest his hands a bit then I’ll fight you in March, but he didn’t even do that.
Leon Edwards “Rooting For” Masvidal To Finally Settle Beef
We’ll see. Skillset-wise, it’s two different levels. His career is doing that, mine’s doing this. It’s hard to make the fight make sense right now. But that’s a fight I need to happen and want to happen.”
Leon Edwards is currently 1-1 against Usman, having earned the UFC welterweight title with a thunderous head kick knockout in the final round of their last fight. With a rematch between the two scheduled for Edwards’ first title defense, Leon Edwards is already preparing Usman’s suffocating style.
““I think if you watch the [rematch] that was Usman being Usman. I can’t see how now he’s going to be a totally different fighter. He might come out and keep proper, not slipping as big. But when you get tired as the rounds go on, you go back into habits. He’ll probably wrestle me more!
Before, he was wrestling in the first fight. He was shooting from a mile away. I will be prepared for that with me and my team. Physically, mentally, we know that that’s his plan. If I was him, that would be my plan — to go out there and try to have a stinker fight. Just get the win by any means. That’s what he does anyway, so I can’t see him come out and try to have another striking match with me or nothing like that. He’ll try to wrestle his ass off.”
How do you see the Edwards vs Usman trilogy bout going? Let us know in the comments.
