Leon
Edwards claims there is no one exciting enough left for him at
welterweight after his upcoming title defense against Colby
Covington at
UFC 296 on Dec. 16.
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Edwards dethroned Kamaru
Usman in a shocking upset at UFC 278 before defending the belt
via decision in a rematch at UFC 286 in March. While many expected
Belal
Muhammad to get his long due title shot next, Dana White was
adamant on giving it to Covington, who hasn’t fought since a
decision win over Jorge
Masvidal in March 2022.
If he defeats Covington at UFC 296, Edwards is no longer interested
in defending his title at 170 pounds. “Rocky” recently told Sky
Sports that he is eyeing double-champ glory with a middleweight
title shot in his next outing.
Edwards will be keenly watching the upcoming UFC 297 title fight
between Sean
Strickland and Dricus Du
Plessis, both of whom he considers to be good matchups.
“One hundred percent, definitely [moving up to challenge the
middleweight champion]. I feel especially with somebody like
Strickland and I think he’s fighting Du Plessis, so any of them two
would be great. I’m big myself. I feel like that would be perfect,”
Edwards told
Sky Sports. “I feel like me going out and being double-champ,
first ever from the U.K. to do it. That’s definitely one of my
goals. That’s on the cards for sure.”
Meanwhile, Khamzat
Chimaev will also be waiting for the winner of Strickland vs.
Du Plessis. Chimaev, who defeated Kamaru
Usman in what was labeled as a middleweight title eliminator at
UFC 294, reacted to Edwards’ desire to move up on
social media.
“Colby wants to go 155. Leon wants 185. They’re both terrified of
me,” Chimaev wrote.
“Rocky” is also looking to make a quick turnaround for an
appearance on the UFC 300 card, which is expected to take place in
April.
“Next would be perfect, to be honest,” he said. “The division right
now, there’s no one that’s exciting in the division so for me to go
out there to do that, that would be perfect. UFC 300, I like that.
To put me on that card would be massive. Let’s see.”