Tag: leon edwards

Leon Edwards open to super fight with Islam Makhachev after UFC 304: ‘I can see that happening’

Leon Edwards open to super fight with Islam Makhachev after UFC 304 I can see that happeningAhead of his return at the end of the month in the main event of UFC 304, incumbent welterweight…

Leon Edwards open to super fight with Islam Makhachev after UFC 304 I can see that happening

Ahead of his return at the end of the month in the main event of UFC 304, incumbent welterweight champion, Leon Edwards has welcomed a potential super fight against current lightweight kingpin, Islam Makhachev, claiming he can definitely forsee a pairing between himself and the Russian soon.

Edwards, the current undisputed welterweight champion, returns this month in Manchester, headlining UFC 304 in a rematch against his fellow surging star, Belal Muhammad in a re-run of their official ‘No Contest’ showdown back in 2020.

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Sidelined since last December, Birmingham native, Edwards most recently racked up his second successful defense of the 170lbs championship, turning in a one-sided unanimous decision shutout win over former interim gold holder, Colby Covington.

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Leon Edwards welcomes super fight with Islam Makhachev after UFC 304

And forever linked with a super fight against current pound-for-pound lightweight champion, Makhachev for his own welterweight crown, Edwards admitted that while both himself and the 155lbs kingpin has some more work to do, they will likely meet down the line.

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“For sure, for sure,” Leon Edwards said of a title fight with Islam Makhachev during an interview with talkSPORT. “I feel like we’ve both got work to do within our division… We’re both on similar paths so I can see that happening in the future. I would like to move up as well, and challenge for the middleweight belt.”

Earlier this week to boot, Team Renegade MMA & BJJ mainstay, Edwards received a call out from former foe, Nate Diaz – who welcomed the chance to take on his past rival in a welterweight championship rematch, off the back of his own boxing win over Jorge Masvidal. 

Who would win in a future title super fight: Leon Edwards or Islam Makhachev?

‘Me When I Lie’ – Fans React To Belal Muhammad’s Manager Predicting Finish In Leon Edwards Title Fight At UFC 304

Betting on the main event of UFC 304 to go the full five rounds on July 27 likely isn’t going to offer you large returns. Both Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad have been on dominant winning streaks in the welterweight division but neither the champion nor the challenger are particularly known for finishing fights. With […]

Continue Reading ‘Me When I Lie’ – Fans React To Belal Muhammad’s Manager Predicting Finish In Leon Edwards Title Fight At UFC 304 at MMA News.

Betting on the main event of UFC 304 to go the full five rounds on July 27 likely isn’t going to offer you large returns.

Both Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad have been on dominant winning streaks in the welterweight division but neither the champion nor the challenger are particularly known for finishing fights.

With Edwards’ very composed and calculated striking style and Muhammad’s brand of heavy and relentless grappling, they have seven finishes between them inside the Octagon.

That being said, just under half of the Brit’s professional wins have come by stoppage, whereas Muhammad has 17 wins by decision and six finishes to his name, the last of which came against Sean Brady at UFC 280 in 2022.

Despite this track record, the challenger’s managed recently made the bold prediction that his fighter will become the new welterweight champion without the need of the championship rounds.

“@bullyb170 will stop Leon Edwards under three rounds,” Ali Abdelaziz wrote.

MMA Fans React To Ali Abdelaziz Claiming Belal Muhammad Will Finish Leon Edwards

If there is one criticism that is often thrown the way of Muhammad, it’s that he doesn’t finish enough fights or that his style isn’t the most exciting.

It’s undeniable that he is incredibly effective, but there is an argument to be made that this approach has made it harder for him to find himself in position for a title shot.

Fans reacted on social media to Abdelaziz believing that Muhammad will earn his fourth finish in the UFC against the man that he last faced in 2021.

“Belal can’t finish a sandwich.”

“Fight goes to decision is gonna be like -1000”

“Even Belal said that’s not happening”

“Me when I lie”

Continue Reading ‘Me When I Lie’ – Fans React To Belal Muhammad’s Manager Predicting Finish In Leon Edwards Title Fight At UFC 304 at MMA News.

Referee Marc Goddard ‘specifically requested not to’ officiate Pereira vs. Adesanya rematch at UFC 287

Referee Marc Goddard 'Specifically requested not To' officiate Pereira vs. Adesanya rematch at UFC 287Marc Goddard wanted nothing to do with Israel Adesanya’s UFC rematch with Alex Pereira. Goddard is considered by many…

Referee Marc Goddard 'Specifically requested not To' officiate Pereira vs. Adesanya rematch at UFC 287

Marc Goddard wanted nothing to do with Israel Adesanya’s UFC rematch with Alex Pereira.

Goddard is considered by many to be one of the UFC’s most respected referees, often acting as the third man in the Octagon for some of the biggest fights in the promotion’s history. That includes his role in the UFC 281 encounter between former middleweight world champions Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira.

On that night, ‘The Last Stylebender’ surrendered the 185-pound crown to his GLORY Kickboxing foe via a shocking fifth-round knockout. However, the stoppage was the subject of some criticism with many suggesting that Goddard stepped in too early and should have allowed Adesanya more time to recover.

Marc Goddard refereeing Pereira vs. Adesanya

Adesanya himself was also critical of the stoppage, prompting Goddard to request that he not be involved in their rematch at UFC 287 five months later.

“Do you remember when Israel Adesanya fought Alex Pereira for the second time in Miami? I specifically requested not to do that fight [too],” Goddard said during an appearance on the Overdogs Podcast.

“Me and him are [fine], I’ve refereed him since, I’ve refereed his fight with Sean Strickland, but I actually removed myself because what I didn’t want to do was walk in the dressing room, I was thinking of the fighter then, this is his night, it’s all about him. I didn’t want to walk into that dressing room and him to have any form of negative connotations or something like that.”

“So, I just thought that the right thing to do and the fairest thing to do by him is just stay out of the fight and give it to another ref. There’s been a couple of incidences where there’s [been] certain fighters that I would rather not [officiate] for personal reasons” (h/t Bloody Elbow).

Marc Goddard will never referee a Leon Edwards fight

Goddard also revealed during the conversation that there is one specific fighter you will never see him in the Octagon with, though for a very different reason.

“Here’s a classic case, Leon Edwards — you’ve never seen me referee Leon Edwards in the UFC and you never will, why? Because I was Leon Edwards’ first MMA coach,” Goddard revealed.

“[That was] way, way back when he was an amateur but it’s a common-sense element for me, even though the link is so [dated], who knew then when Leon first walked in… But you’ve never saw me referee him and you never will because we just keep it out of the way.”

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Outside of the obvious reasons, Goddard also explained that he doesn’t want to find himself “in a predicament where I’m making a call that could go against him so it’s both ways.”

Marc Goddard

Rafael dos Anjos: Islam Makhachev Is Too Small To Beat Leon Edwards For Second UFC Title

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos doubts Islam Makhachev’s chances of achieving two-division glory. Makhachev has cemented himself as the 155-pound kingpin with three defenses since completing his long laud out path to the throne formerly occupied by his friend and mentor, the great Khabib Nurmagomedov. After submitting Charles Oliveira to win the gold […]

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Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos doubts Islam Makhachev’s chances of achieving two-division glory.

Makhachev has cemented himself as the 155-pound kingpin with three defenses since completing his long laud out path to the throne formerly occupied by his friend and mentor, the great Khabib Nurmagomedov.

After submitting Charles Oliveira to win the gold in 2022, Makhachev went on to defeat then-featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski in a pair of contests last year, before most recently stalling Dustin Poirier’s late-career title ambitions.

With his latest triumph at UFC 302, talk of the Dagestani surpassing “The Eagle’s” legacy and career on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage has increased. Many have pointed to a possible weight change as one factor that could move Makhachev into prime position to be the lightweight GOAT.

But although the reigning titleholder has frequently expressed his plans to move up, one of Makhachev’s peers doesn’t see him getting the better of the champ above…

‘RDA’ Dismisses Makhachev’s Chances Of Beating Edwards

During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Rafael dos Anjos was asked for his take on Makhachev’s welterweight ambitions.

The Dagestani looks set to be tasked with at least one more assignment at 155 pounds in the form of Arman Tsarukyan before looking to join the ‘champ-champ’ club.

But should Makhachev get the better of the Russian-Armenian again and earn a shot at Leon Edwards, “RDA” doesn’t expect him to have the size and physicality to dethrone “Rocky.”

“I remember when I moved up, I fought all the contenders. … When you move up and go straight for the title, of course you have a bigger chance to become champion,” dos Anjos said. “But I don’t think Islam — he’s got very good momentum right now, but I don’t think he could beat Leon Edwards and become a double champion.

“I just think the size difference — Leon is a much bigger guy. And we saw smaller guys like Poirier giving Islam a lot of trouble,” dos Anjos continued. “Poirier, man, he’s very tough, but he used to fight at 145 (pounds) and he gave Islam a hard fight.””I just think the size difference — Leon is a much bigger guy. And we saw smaller guys like Poirier giving Islam a lot of trouble,” dos Anjos continued. “Poirier, man, he’s very tough, but he used to fight at 145 (pounds) and he gave Islam a hard fight.”

Before potentially getting the chance to prove the Brazilian wrong, Makhachev must further cement his grip on the lightweight crown.

In addition to Tsarukyan likely being next in line should he complete the requirements to reduce his suspension to six months, Charles Oliveira has also reiterated his plan to work his way to a second dance with Makhachev, while Michael Chandler claims to have been offered a title opportunity.

Edwards, meanwhile, is next tasked with defending his welterweight strap in a rematch against Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in Manchester this month.

Beyond that, the Brit isn’t short on potential challengers, with the likes of Shavkat Rakhmonov, Jack Della Maddalena, and Ian Garry all waiting in the wings as first-time matchups.

Continue Reading Rafael dos Anjos: Islam Makhachev Is Too Small To Beat Leon Edwards For Second UFC Title at MMA News.

5 Fights We’re Looking Forward to at UFC 304

UFC 304 is still almost three weeks away, but anticipation for the July 27 pay-per-view in Manchester, England is already mounting. That’s not just because it…

UFC 304 is still almost three weeks away, but anticipation for the July 27 pay-per-view in Manchester, England is already mounting. That’s not just because it…