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“I feel Masvidal is the fight to make and that’s the one I’m pushing for. But if they come with Woodley with good money, I’ll do it as well.”
Top-five ranked welterweight contender Leon Edwards has been campaigning for a fight with Leon Edwards for the better part of a year but, no matter what he says or does, neither Masvidal nor the UFC brass seem particularly interested in the bout.
Edwards has had a grudge with Masvidal ever since ‘Gamebred’ blasted him with a ‘three piece and a soda’ backstage at UFC Fight Night 147 in London, England. But, seeing as though the ex-street fighter seemingly has no interest in settling the score inside the cage, ‘Rocky’ is open to a money fight with ex-welterweight champ Tyron Woodley.
“If it’s guaranteed a title shot next then probably,” Edwards told MMA Fighting when asked about a potential bout with Woodley. “Like I said, I want that Masvidal fight. That’s the biggest fight to make. I feel like me and Woodley, we’ve got no animosity, there’s nothing there other than a chance to beat a former world champion.
“I feel Masvidal is the fight to make and that’s the one I’m pushing for. But if they come with Woodley with good money, I’ll do it as well. Pay me and I’ll show up.”
Woodley, 37, hasn’t fought since losing the welterweight title to Kamaru Usman at UFC 235. ‘T-Wood’ was expected to return to the Octagon against Robbie Lawler at UFC on ESPN 3 but was forced to pull out of the bout after suffering a hand injury in training.
Edwards, 28, last fought at UFC on ESPN 4 against Rafael dos Anjos, an event that that marked the Brit’s second headlining bout in the promotion. The Team Renegade fighter beat dos Anjos via unanimous decision, extending his win streak to eight and cementing his position in the UFC’s official top-five welterweight rankings.