Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
UFC welterweight Leon Edwards calls for fights with Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington.
UFC welterweight Leon Edwards (18-3) currently sits 3rd in the promotion’s 170 lb rankings, behind only Gilbert Burns, Colby Covington and champion Kamaru Usman. The 29-year-old Brit last appeared in the Octagon last July when he beat former UFC lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos by unanimous decision.
Edwards was scheduled to face-off against former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in the headliner for UFC on ESPN+ 29, but then the COVID-19 pandemic happened. With world governments closing borders and shutting down sporting events, the UFC attempted to get Edwards to leave his family and travel to an unknown location for the fight.
But Edwards wasn’t prepared to head into the biggest fight of his career with so much uncertainty surrounding the event and with what was happening all over the globe.
Since then the welterweight title picture has shifted dramatically, with Kamaru Usman defending his belt versus Jorge Masvidal on ‘Fight Island’, Gilbert Burns skyrocketing into title contention and Colby Covington defeating Tyron Woodley in a bitter fight that made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Edwards spoke to MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin about his plans in the division and about what he has seen lately coming from Covington—who has used his platform to label Woodley, and proponents of the Black Lives Matters movement, as terrorists and make bigoted statements towards Usman.
“Your tribe and smoke signals and blah, blah, blah,” said Edwards, referring to Covington’s remarks towards Usman, who was born in Nigeria. “And he’s calling Woodley a terrorist because of Black Lives Matter. All these statements he’s making is racist. There’s no other way to go around it.”
“I understand he’s creating a character, but race that’s not a character,” added Edwards. “That’s just hate and he’s spreading hate. I never liked the guy and after that, I 100 percent don’t like the guy.”
Edwards said he is open to fighting Covington and that he believes such a fight would go very well for him.
“Every fight he does the same thing. He falls into his shots. If he didn’t have cardio he’d be a sh*t fighter. If he didn’t have his pace because everything he does is pretty standard, pretty straight forward with what he does and when he competes.
“That would be a great match-up for me as well. Anyone in the top five, I believe I’ll be victorious. I’ll f**k him up. I’m ready to go. It’s up to him and the UFC.”
Edwards told MMA Fighting he is also eager to fight Masvidal, too. The pair have thrown down in the past, but it was backstage at the UFC’s most recent event in London.
“I want the fight,” said Edwards regarding an actually sanctioned contest versus Masvidal “The UFC wanted the fight. They offered it to him and he turned it down. He said he’d rather fight Nate Diaz. I don’t understand it. He claims he wants to get back to the title shot and fight for a world championship. I don’t understand what fighting a person like Nate Diaz will get you? I don’t know.”
“I don’t know where his head’s at,” continued Edwards. “I don’t know what the f**k he’s doing but I’m here, I’m ready. I’m willing to go.”
Edwards said he hoped he could get a fight with either Masvidal or Covington to secure a shot at the title.
“I deserve a No. 1 contender shot if not the title shot right now. Those are the only fights to me that make sense for one of these guys stepping up and fighting. Anyone out of that order wouldn’t do nothing for my career or propel me forward.”