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Islam Makhachev dreams of adding Leon Edwards’ welterweight title to his collection

Reigning UFC lightweight world champion Islam Makhachev has his sights set on adding another belt to his collection. Makhachev climbed to the top of the 155-pound mountain in October, scoring a second-round submission against one of the promotion’s most prolific finishers, Charles Oliveira. Since then, Makhachev has successfully defended his title against featherweight titleholder and […]

Reigning UFC lightweight world champion Islam Makhachev has his sights set on adding another belt to his collection.

Makhachev climbed to the top of the 155-pound mountain in October, scoring a second-round submission against one of the promotion’s most prolific finishers, Charles Oliveira. Since then, Makhachev has successfully defended his title against featherweight titleholder and P4P great Alexander Volkanovski. If things go according to plan for the Dagestani Destroyer, he’ll find himself with an opportunity to place another piece of UFC gold on his shelf.

Speaking with UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier on The DC Check-In, Islam Makhachev revealed that his dream is to have another UFC title draped over his shoulder. Specifically, Leon Edwards‘ UFC title.

“This is my dream and I’m sure I can be double champion. I can beat Leon Edwards. Anywhere, I can beat this guy,” Makhachev claimed.

Islam Makhachev and Leon Edwards Have Plenty of Contenders to Deal With

If Islam Makhachev wants a crack at the 170-pound crown, he’ll likely have to get in line as there is a laundry list of contenders waiting for their time to shine. With a decisive win over Gilbert Burns in his last outing, Belal Muhammad has established himself as the most deserving contender, yet for some reason, ‘Remember the Name’ is being forced to sit on the sidelines while Colby Covington cashes in on what will be his third-crack at welterweight gold.

Though if we are being completely honest, a fight between Islam Makhachev and Leon Edwards would be a much easier sell than the previously mentioned fights. And with the promotion’s penchant for booking big-money fights over ones that make the most sense, Makhachev vs. Edwards could be coming to a streaming device near you very soon.

Islam Makhachev is currently rumored to return to the Octagon this October when the UFC heads back to Abu Dhabi. No official announcements have been made, but after Charles Oliveira’s impressive first-round TKO against Beneil Dariush, ‘Do Bronx’ might be teed up for a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protege. Another possibility could see the winner of next month’s highly anticipated scrap between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje producing Makhachev’s next opponent.

With contenders lining up in both divisions, it’s hard to imagine the UFC holding up both the lightweight and welterweight divisions for a champion vs. champion clash. But as they say in mixed martial arts, anything is possible.

Colby Covington plots finish of arch rival Leon Edwards in earmarked UFC title fight: ‘I know I’m going to nail him’

Former interim welterweight champion, Colby Covington has claimed that fans and judges alike will be plotting against him during his impending title clash with Leon Edwards – predicting a finish over the current UFC titleholder. Covington, a former interim gold holder, has been sidelined since he headlined UFC 272 back in March of last year, […]

Covington, a former interim gold holder, has been sidelined since he headlined UFC 272 back in March of last year, rebinding to the winner’s enclosure with a unanimous decision victory against Jorge Masvidal.

As for Edwards, the Birmingham native headlined UFC 286 in March, defeating common-foe and former pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman in a close, majority decision win on home soil in the pair’s championship trilogy rubber match.

Expected to book his second attempted welterweight title defense before the close of this year, Edwards, a staple of Team Renegade BJJ & MMA – has insisted the UFC have yet to approach him with a fight offer to take on challenger, Covington – despite noting his interest in a return at UFC 294 in October in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Colby Covington breaks down earmarked fight with Leon Edwards

Previewing his game plan for a showdown with champion, Edwards, Covington has claimed that volume will be key in his pursuit of gold against the former, whom he plans on finishing and leaving judges out of the equation – predicting a rather biased result otherwise.

“I know where I’m good: volume,” Colby Covington said during a recent interview with MSCS Media. “Leon (Edward) – how to prepare for it, I was already preparing. Hey, I know the judges are going to be against me, the crowd’s probably gonna be against me. I gotta go finish this guy, this cannot go to the judges’ decision. So, I was training like, literally throwing 500 punches a round in training – volume, volume, and just push myself to a level I’ve never got to before.”

“Mainly, to prepare for him it’s just heavy, heavy volume, high pressure,” Colby Covington explained. “No one wants a tought fight. No one wants you in their face constantly from second one to minute 25. My biggest thing for preparing for him is just heavy volume, pressure, and I know I’m gonna nail him. I know I’m gonna break him mentally, physically – everything.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

Leon Edwards issues challenge to UFC welterweight contenders: ‘There’s no freebies, earn your shot’

Despite appearing on the cusp of a welterweight title defense against the outspoken, Colby Covington, current UFC champion, Leon Edwards has urged contenders in the weight class to land themselves a deserved shot at his throne. Edwards, the current undisputed welterweight champion, most recently headlined UFC 286 back in March on home soil, successfully defending […]

Edwards, the current undisputed welterweight champion, most recently headlined UFC 286 back in March on home soil, successfully defending his crown in a close, majority decision win over Kamaru Usman in his trilogy rubber match with the former pound-for-pound number one.

Successfully defending his championship for the first time, Birmingham native, Edwards had struck gold back in August of last year, stopping Auchi native, Usman with a spectacular, highlight-reel fifth round high-kick KO win at UFC 278.

Expected to make his second attempted title knockback against the aforenoted, Covington, Edwards rejected the opportunity to make another July homecoming in London, confirming how he prefers a lay-off until October, potentially at a UFC 294 event in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Leon Edwards talks have been held regarding a fight with Colby Covington next

Receiving a slew of call outs from the likes of Clovis native, Covington, as well as the undefeated, Khamzat Chimaev – Edwards has called for welterweight competition to separate themselves from the chasing pack.

“These guys want to sit out, complain, and moan about the title shot without fighting,” Leon Edwards told MMA Fighting. “I had to do 10 in a row to get my title shot. These guys are coming off one win, one loss, one win – demanding title shots. I feel like they should fight each other. Either Colby (Covington) versus (Gilbert) Burns, or Belal (Muhamamd) versus Colby. However (sic) they wanna do it. Whoever wins, that’s me next.”

“The UFC hasn’t spoke to us and there’s no talks of that fight [with Colby Covington] happening,” Leon Edwards explained. “He’s just talking just to talk – this is the guy that sat out for over a year, turned down fight after fight. I [accepted a fight with] Khamzat (Chimaev) when no wanted to fight Khamzat – I am willing to fight whoever, whenever, as long as they deserve it. There will be no giveouts, there will be no freebies here, Go earn your way and title shot is yours.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

Khamzat Chimaev issues chilling warning to UFC kingpin Leon Edwards ahead of return: ‘I’m ready for you’

Seeing a slew of scheduled showdowns with Leon Edwards fall to the wayside through 2020, undefeated welterweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has issued a warning to the current division champion, clamoring for his premier title offing under the UFC banner in his Octagon return. Chimaev, the current #4 ranked welterweight contender, improved to 12-0 as a […]

Chimaev, the current #4 ranked welterweight contender, improved to 12-0 as a professional back in September of last year in the co-main event of UFC 279, submitting Kevin Holland in a dominant opening round D’Arce choke submission success.

As for Edwards, the Birmingham native turned in his second career win over former pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman back in March at UFC 286, successfully defending the welterweight title in the pair’s trilogy title rubber-match.

Slated to fight Chimaev on three separate occasions between December 2020, and March of 2021 – illness for both fighters forced the bout’s postponement and ultimate cancellation.

Khamzat Chimaev has been tipped to make his return at UFC 294 in October

And preparing for an expected middleweight division climb in his much-rumored Octagon return in October – Chimaev, who has been linked with a spot on the upcoming UFC 294 pay-per-view card in Abu Dhabi, UAE, has called for fights with the above-mentioned, Usman, middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya – and claimed he was “ready’ to fight Edwards too.

“I want to fight for the title, so for me it doesn’t matter which weight class,” Khamzat Chimaev said on his YouTube channel. “I can go [170 pounds], but i don’t want to make weight for a nobody at [170 pounds], why am i going to do that? I’m number three – actually, that number for me is nothing. I feel I’m the king of this weight class and I’m the king of [185 pounds] as well.”

“So, just give me a title shot,” Khamzat Chimaev explained. “I’m ready for both. I’m ready for (Kamaru) Usman. I’m ready Leon (Edwards), I’m ready for Israel (Adesanya). Doesn’t matter. I’m ready for everybody. Just ask Dana (White) when I say no. Never. I want to fight I am the best, and when you feel you’re the best you have to fight with the best, everyone.”

Leon Edwards regrets failed UFC clash with arch rival Jorge Masvidal: ‘I wanted to put a beating on him’

In the wake of the recent retirement of former welterweight title challenger, Jorge Masvidal, current division kingpin, Leon Edwards admits he regrets missing the opportunity to face his bitter rival under the banner of the UFC. Edwards, the current undisputed welterweight champion, most recently headlined UFC 286 back in March of this year, successfully defending […]

Edwards, the current undisputed welterweight champion, most recently headlined UFC 286 back in March of this year, successfully defending his crown in a close, majority decision win over common-foe, Kamaru Usman.

Winning the undisputed welterweight title back in August of last year in a stunning knockout win at UFC 278, Edwards rallied with a fifth round stoppage of Usman – flattening the Auchi native with a stunning final round high-kick KO.

As for Masvidal, the two time title challenger, bowed out of active competition back in April following a fourth consecutive Octagon defeat, dropping a rather comprehensive unanimous decision loss against one-time title challenger, Gilbert Burns.

Forever on a collision course with Birmingham native, Edwards, Masvidal kicked off his rivalry with the former back in March 2019, landing multiple strikes on Edwards during a post-UFC London altercation backstage.

Set to face-off at UFC 269 in December 2021, Edwards saw his clash with the Miami native fall to the wayside just weeks out, with Masvidal withdrawing from the bout due to an undisclosed injury.

Leon Edwards admits a clash with Jorge Masvidal is one that got away from him

And in the wake of Masvidal’s retirement from mixed martial arts, Edwards claimed that pairing was one that ultimately got away from him.

“That’s the one that got away,” Leon Edwards said of a fight with Jorge Masvidal during an interview with MMA Fighting. “That’s the one I wished happened, the one that fans wished happened, everyone wished that fight happened. For some reason, the UFC didn’t want to make it or tried making it and (Jorge) Masvidal turned it down. That’s the fight that definitely got away for sure.”

“I wanted to put a beating on him,” Leon Edwards explained. “Looking like that or whatever he looked like, ever after (Ben) Askren, I just wanted to put a whooping on him and that was it. Whether it was the best Jorge or not, technically he’s just not as good as me. He’s not better than me. I just wanted to put a beating on him, but sadly I won’t get the chance in the Octagon.”

Khamzat Chimaev declares himself ‘King’ of UFC middleweight, welterweight divisions: ‘Just give me a title shot’

Undefeated welterweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has declared himself as the “king” of both his current division – and a division he is expected to move to in his Octagon comeback later this year; middleweight. Chimaev, the current #4 ranked welterweight contender, slipped from the top-3 in the official welterweight rankings earlier this month, following Belal […]

Chimaev, the current #4 ranked welterweight contender, slipped from the top-3 in the official welterweight rankings earlier this month, following Belal Muhammad’s impressive unanimous decision win over common-foe, former title challenger, Gilbert Burns at UFC 288.

Yet to feature since September of last year in the co-main event of UFC 279, in a period of fierce inactivity for the Chechnya native, Chimaev most recently improved to 12-0 as a professional with a first round D’Arce choke submission victory against Kevin Holland.

Expected to make a move to the middleweight limit for an Octagon return later this year, earmarked for UFC 294 in October in Abu Dhabi, UAE – Chimaev has been linked with a fight against former pound-for-pound number one and former welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman.

Khamzat Chimaev calls for UFC championship opportunities

Claiming this week that he would also defeat two-time and current undisputed UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya without strikes if they competed against each other, Chimaev has now declared himself as the “king” of both the welterweight and middleweight limits.