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Leon Edwards confirms he won’t fight at UFC 291 in July, eyes return in October on Abu Dhabi card instead

Undisptued UFC welterweight champion, Leon Edwards claims he will not be competing at UFC 291 on July 22. at a targeted London, England event – preferring an October return at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Edwards, who headlined UFC 286 just last month, managed to successfully defend his title in a trilogy title rubber […]

Edwards, who headlined UFC 286 just last month, managed to successfully defend his title in a trilogy title rubber match win over former champion and former pound-for-pound fighter, Kamaru Usman – nabbing a close, majority decision victory.

The Birmingham native was lined up subsequently to face the current #2 ranked contender and former interim welterweight champion, Colby Covington for his second attempted title defense, with UFC leader, Dana White confirming how the latter would be next to challenge for gold in the division.

However, Edwards would question how the Clovis native, who has been sidelined since March of last year deserved a title showdown against him.

As a result, Covington, who most recently landed a unanimous decision win over the recently retired, Jorge Masvidal, claimed he had received assurances from UFC brass and White that Edwards would be stripped if he refused to fight him.

Leon Edwards uninterested in July return at earmarked UFC 291 card

However, according to Edwards, the Team Renagade BJJ & MMA staple has no intentions of fighting at soon as July at UFC 291 – particularly against the outspoken, Covington.

“No [he will not fight at UFC London], unless it comes with some stupid money, the bag always talks,” Leon Edwards told Sky Sports. “Unless the stupid money comes I don’t see it – I’d literally have to get back in training camp next week.”

“I fought under a month ago,” Leon Edwards explained. “March to July, I don’t think [that] makes sense. In the last year or so, I’ve fought three times I think. I’d love to fight now towards the end of the year. The Abu Dhabi card [UFC 294] card would be great. That would be perfect. I get to nurse my injuries, I get time to get back into it. I feel like Abu Dhabi would be perfect.”

Winning the undisputed welterweight title back in August of last year in Salt Lake City, Utah – Edwards rallied to finish Usman with a thunderous fifth round high kick in their championship rematch.

Colby Covington ‘Assured’ Leon Edwards will be stripped of UFC title if he turns down summer fight with him

Former interim UFC welterweight champion, Colby Covington has claimed he has received “assurances” from promotional brass, including Dana White, that undisputed division kingpin, Leon Edwards will be stripped of his championship gold if he refuses to share the Octagon with him this summer. Covington, the current #2 ranked welterweight contender, is expected to make his […]

Covington, the current #2 ranked welterweight contender, is expected to make his Octagon return this summer in an undisputed title fight against Birmingham native Edwards, with the latter competing just last month.

Headlining UFC 286 against common-foe, Kamaru Usman, Edwards managed to secure his first defense of the throne and bookend his trilogy with the Auchi native in a majority decision victory in the pair’s rubber match.

Off the back of his triumph, Edwards was pegged to share the Octagon with Covington next – as the latter attended The O2 Arena event in London, England.

Reports emerged in the weeks following the event detailing how the organization are planning to return to the UK potentially on July 22. next for a UFC 292 pay-per-view card – with an undisputed welterweight title fight between Edwards and Covington floated.

Colby Covington claims he has received “assurances” from the UFC

Receiving multiple warnings from the outspoken challenger regarding a potential skirting of a fight against him, Covington has now claimed the UFC will force Edwards to relinquish his status as undisputed welterweight champion if he turns down a fight with him this summer.

“Dana White, the UFC, Hunter Campbell [UFC Chief Business Officer], and all those – I took them out in Miami, because i am the king of Miami,” Colby Covington told Submission Radio during a recent interview. “We had a great talk.”

“(Leon Edwards) has nowhere to go,” Colby Covington explained. “If Leon doesn’t wanna fight, I’ve already been assured that it’s okay, they’ll [the UFC] just strip him and I’m next in line – Dana has assured me I’m fighting him this summer.”

Leon Edwards mocks Jorge Masvidal after UFC 287 loss, retirement: ‘F*cking bum fumbled the bag again’

Undisputed UFC welterweight champion, Leon Edwards has poked fun at arch-rival, Jorge Masvidal following the Miami veteran’s unanimous decision loss to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 last night – claiming the Floridian once again “fumbled” a fight against him. Co-headlining UFC 287 last night in his hometown, two-time welterweight title challenger, Masvidal suffered his fourth […]

Co-headlining UFC 287 last night in his hometown, two-time welterweight title challenger, Masvidal suffered his fourth consecutive loss in the form of a unanimous decision defeat to the perennial division contender, Burns.

And in the immediate aftermath of the co-headlining defeat, Masvidal, who was linked with a potential walk away from the sport, and confirmed during an interview with Joe Rogan that he would be hanging up his gloves from mixed martial arts – calling time on a storied professional career.

Leon Edwards pokes fun at Jorge Masvidal’s decision loss at UFC 287

Reacting to Masvidal’s decision loss to Brazilian contender, Burns and subsequent retirement from the sport, Birmingham native, Edwards mocked the American Top Team staple’s missed opportunity to share the Octagon with him.

“F*cking bum Jorge (Masvidal) fumbled the bag once again,” Leon Edwards tweeted following UFC 287. “None of them really deserve it. Who should I fight next? #KingLeon”

Fucking bum Jorge fumbled the bag once again. None of them really deserve it. Who should I fight next? #kingLeon

— Leon 'Rocky' Edwards (@Leon_edwardsmma) April 9, 2023

Most recently himself back in March in the main event of UFC 286, Team Renagade MMA & BJJ staple, Edwards successfully defended his undisputed welterweight title with a close, majority decision trilogy victory over common-foe, Kamaru Usman.

And the defending champion is widely expected to return to an earmarked UFC 291 card on July 22. in London, England – taking on former interim titleholder, Colby Covington in his second attempted title knockback.

Edwards and Masvidal were first officially scheduled to share the Octagon in a bid to bury their longstanding hatchet back in December 2021 at UFC 269, the latter withdrew from the pay-per-view showdown citing an undisclosed injury.

Dana White Explains When Jorge Masvidal vs. Leon Edwards Fight Will Happen in UFC

UFC fans have been clamoring for a fight between welterweight champion Leon Edwards and Jorge Masvidal if the latter is able to win his clash against Gilbert…

Dana White confirms Jorge Masvidal would earn title shot with UFC 287 victory against Gilbert Burns

UFC president, Dana White has confirmed that former two-time welterweight title challenger, Jorge Masvidal would earn a shot at welterweight gold should he defeat Gilbert Burns on home soil this weekend at UFC 287 – claiming he would be interested in booking the Floridian against current titleholder, Leon Edwards. Attempting to snap a three-fight losing […]

Attempting to snap a three-fight losing skid this weekend in Miami, the current #11 ranked welterweight contender, Masvidal has been sidelined since March of last year at UFC 272 – dropping a one-sided unanimous decision win to former interim champion, Colby Covington.

And ahead of UFC 287, the American Top Team mainstay claimed that he would be fighting Edwards for the championship before Covington, if he manages to defeat Brazilian contender, Burns this weekend.

However, according to reports this month, the UFC are working on an undisputed welterweight title fight between Edwards and Covington to take main event honors at UFC 291 in July – in a potential return to the UK for the organization.

Dana White lays out path to title shot for UFC veteran, Jorge Masvidal

White, has also, however, claimed that should Masvidal defeat the perennial challenger, Burns at UFC 287, and Edwards successfully defends his title against Covington – the winning parties would likely find themselves on a collision course.

“Let me tell you what’s going to happen, if he (Jorge Masvidal) goes in against a guy like Gilbert Burns, whom I have a ton of respect for. Gilbert Burns is an absolute badass,” Dana White told TMZ Sports during a recent interview.

“Then you have Colby Covington versus Leon Edwards,” Dana White explained. “And if Leon Edwards beats Colby Covington, the history between Leon Edwards and Jorge Masvidal, and they both win these fights, that fight will be so huge. People would be dying to see that fight. It would be absolutely massive, and maybe we do it back in Miami.”

Initially booked to settle their differences at UFC 269 back in December of 2021, Masvidal withdrew from the their welterweight grudge match due to an undisclosed injury.

Jorge Masvidal still plotting fight with Leon Edwards: ‘I’m gonna use that belt to beat it over his head’

Jorge Masvidal has plotted for the future and plans to fight his bitter foe Leon Edwards in England. Since capturing the world’s attention and headlining a sold-out Madison Square Garden for a one-off BMF belt against Nate Diaz, ‘Gamebred’ has certainly had an eventful timeline. Unfortunately for the Miami native, he is currently riding a […]

Jorge Masvidal has plotted for the future and plans to fight his bitter foe Leon Edwards in England.

Since capturing the world’s attention and headlining a sold-out Madison Square Garden for a one-off BMF belt against Nate Diaz, ‘Gamebred’ has certainly had an eventful timeline.

Unfortunately for the Miami native, he is currently riding a three-fight losing streak, including the first knockout loss of his career to the hands of former champion, Kamaru Usman, in a devastating fashion.

Jorge Masvidal went on to lose a unanimous decision in a personal grudge match against Colby Covington, and even suffered criminal charges afterwards in an shocking event which took place in Florida.

The 38-year-old welterweight is scheduled to fight a dangerous Brazilian this weekend at UFC 287, and his newfound aura is of a confident and refurbished fighter.

Jorge Masvidal claims he is not looking past Gilbert Burns, but he is determined to make an example out of current champion Edwards.

The two fighters have had a viral physical encounter following Masvidal’s violent knockout over Darren Till in London.

A fight between the two seemed inevitable to occur in the octagon, but it never came to fruition.

Now that the roles have flipped, Jorge Masvidal is urgently seeking a final opportunity at UFC gold in his veteran career.

Jorge Masvidal plots future fight with rival, Leon Edwards

During the UFC 287 media day, the #11 ranked welterweight spoke of his current ambitions.

“I never underestimate anybody that has two hands and two feet,” Jorge Masvidal answered. “But, I don’t stop thinking about also that after this fight I’m going to England. I’m gonna use that belt to beat it over Leon’s head and then come back to this great country and defend that belt. So it’s not something that I don’t think of, it’s in the back of my mind definitely.”

As Masivdal prepares to pull off a big upset as a +350 underdog against Burns, Dana White has made it clear that Covington will likely be the next to challenge ‘Rocky’ for his title.

Although he may have lost to Covington, Masvidal believes with a win this weekend UFC fans will be much happier to see him in the cage with Edwards.

“First is Gilbert. Eliminate him in impressive fashion, and there’ll be talk of nobody else fighting for nothing else but me, you know? Last I checked, UFC’s a PPV selling business. B***h-a** Colby ain’t never broke 300,000 PPVs in his life except when he fought me. Leon’s not a PPV draw. All of a sudden, what, they’re just putting on events to put them on? I don’t think so. So as long as I do my job Saturday, everything else will fall into place.”

Will Masvidal pull off a massive upset this weekend?