After going and losing his UFC welterweight title to current champion Belal Muhammad. Leon Edwards is determined to make a remarkable comeback when he steps into the octagon next year.
Leon Edwards shocked the MMA world back in 2022 when he was able to dethrone the legendary Kamaru Usman. This was with a breath-taking fifth-round stoppage, followed by a razor-close majority decision victory in their immediate rematch.
The 33-year-old then solidified his reign at welterweight with a dominant display against top contender Colby Covington. Leon was able to showcase his elite skills and earned recognition as one of the UFC’s premier fighters. However, earlier this year, Leon Edwards faced a stunning upset. This was when he suffered his first loss in nine years after being out grappled by Belal Muhammad.
Leon Edwards’s Eyes Redemption
Leon Edwards has remained one of British MMA’s brightest stars. However, following his rematch with Belal Muhammad, he has largely kept quiet about his plans for the future.
Meanwhile, the current champion Belal Muhammad was set to carry his momentum into a clash against rising welterweight prospect Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 on December 7th. However, a serious injury for Belal Muhammad would force him to withdraw from the main event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The 36-year-old champion is now expected to make the first defence of his title next year, with his next challenger likely to be determined by the outcome of UFC 310. This is due to Rakhmonov remaining on the card and shifting his focus to Ian Garry.
Amid the division’s shifting dynamics, Leon Edwards has made it clear he is determined to reclaim the welterweight belt. Edwards talked about this when he said to Myprotein;
“My goal right now is to obviously get the belt back,”
“I’d love to be champion again by the end of [next year]. I feel like I hate losing more than I love winning.”
Edwards Eyes Path to Welterweight Title
The winner of Shavkat Rakhmonov against Ian Garry is expected to earn a shot at the title against Belal Muhammad once the champion is set to return to action. For Leon Edwards, this means that staying active is crucial, with the possibility of competing on the upcoming UFC London Card on March 22nd looming as a prime opportunity.
If the British star does manage to secure a victory and re-establish momentum, he could position himself for a title showdown against Muhammad, Rakhmonov, or Garry in the future.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
