Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards expects to be holding gold on MMA’s biggest stage again by the end of 2025.
Edwards is eyeing a big bounce-back year after having his reign — which had successfully gotten past challenges from Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington — brought to an emphatic halt at the hands of Belal Muhammad this past July.
The pair ran it back in the headline act of UFC 304 at Manchester’s Co-op Live, where “Remember the Name” dominated across five rounds to achieve his championship ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage.
For “Rocky,” the result brought to an end his 13-fight unbeaten run and marked his first defeat since a setback at the hands of Usman way back in 2015.
With that in mind, the defeat has understandably been difficult for the Jamaica-born Brit to manage. But as this calendar year approaches its conclusion, Edwards is looking to rectify things with a big campaign in 2025.
“My goal right now is to obviously get the belt back,” Edwards told Myprotein. “I’d love to be champion again by the end of the year, next year, around this time next year.
“Just putting steps in place. I haven’t lost a fight now in, like, nine years. So, I was getting used to that feeling again. I think I hate losing more than I love winning,” Edwards continued. “My goal is to be a two-time world champion.”
For the time being, Edwards will no doubt have his eyes on some key contests coming up toward the top of the 170-pound division.
After Muhammad’s withdrawal, Shavkat Rakhmonov will defend his status as top contender opposite a fellow undefeated up-and-comer in Ian Garry at UFC 310 in Las Vegas on Dec. 7.
The following week, the charging Joaquin Buckley will look to take another step up the welterweight ladder in Tampa by adding to the woes of Covington, who has aspirations of a fourth opportunity at reaching the undisputed throne.