Tag: leon edwards

Henry Cejudo expects Leon Edwards to lose UFC title soon: ‘It’s an easy fight’

Leon Edwards Henry CejudoFormer two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo says that fans should celebrate ‘Rocky’ Leon Edwards’ title reign while they still can. Just this past week, ‘Rocky’ Leon Edwards was able to defend the UFC welterweight crown in the final chapter of his trilogy against ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ Kamaru Usman. With two wins over Usman, Edwards is […]

Leon Edwards Henry Cejudo

Former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo says that fans should celebrate ‘Rocky’ Leon Edwards’ title reign while they still can.

Just this past week, ‘Rocky’ Leon Edwards was able to defend the UFC welterweight crown in the final chapter of his trilogy against ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ Kamaru Usman. With two wins over Usman, Edwards is now planning who his next title bout will be against.

The Olympic gold medalist Cejudo is a close friend of ‘The Nigerian Nightmare.’ The American athlete is claiming that Edwards’ title reign will soon be over.

Henry Cejudo picks Colby Covington over Leon Edwards

Many fans and pundits are picking the next title defense of Edwards’ crown to be against the former interim champion ‘Chaos’ Colby Covington. On his YouTube, channel, Cejudo discusses this match. He said:

“You’ve gotta give it to Leon Edwards… But Colby Covington’s your next champ. It’s an easy fight for Colby. Colby’s the next champ,” Cejudo said. “The next person in line is right there, Colby Covington… This is a really good fight for Colby for the simple fact of the wrestling. I do see Colby Covington finally becoming UFC champion at 170 pounds.” [Transcript courtesy of MMA News]

Leon Edwards has claimed that he has no interest in facing Colby Covington, at least for now. After his UFC 286 win, Edwards spoke to the press and explained:

“I don’t know how that [fight with Colby Covington] makes sense. He hasn’t fought in over a year-and-a-half – he sat out un-injured. I just don’t get how he just slides in for the world title shot when there are other guys in the division who have been active, fighting and didn’t sit out.”

See Cejudo’s entire video below:

Leon Edwards uninterested in fourth fight against Kamaru Usman: ‘I want to move forward’

Leon Edwards Kamaru UsmanUFC 286 saw ‘Rocky’ Leon Edwards win the trilogy against his rival Kamaru Usman. The UFC welterweight world title has been settled in the hands of the English fighter. With ‘Rocky’ getting his hand raised, fans and pundits have begun to raise the question as to who his first title defense will be against. Many […]

Leon Edwards Kamaru Usman

UFC 286 saw ‘Rocky’ Leon Edwards win the trilogy against his rival Kamaru Usman. The UFC welterweight world title has been settled in the hands of the English fighter.

With ‘Rocky’ getting his hand raised, fans and pundits have begun to raise the question as to who his first title defense will be against. Many people have recommended ‘Chaos’ Colby Covington and Edwards has rebuffed this recommendation.

If Leon Edwards is not interested in Covington, then some have even recommended a fourth match against the former division king Kamaru Usman.

Leon Edwards vs Kamaru Usman 4?

Leon Edwards was quick to express that he is not interested in a fourth meeting against Kamaru Usman. During the UFC 286 post-fight press conference, ‘Rocky’ explained:

“Probably not. It’s been three fights now and I want to move forward in my career. I’ll look towards more different fights.”

After meeting ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ in the octagon thrice, Edwards has nothing but respect for Usman. He added:

“I wish him well in whatever he chooses to do next. There was never no beef between me and Kamaru. I feel we both just felt we was the better man and that was it. You heard his words after the fight and I feel the same way. I wish him well. The sport is hard, so respect to him.” [Transcript courtesy of MMA Fighting]

Leon Edwards may be heading for a rematch against the top-ranked welterweight Belal Muhammad. The two fought in 2021 which ended in a No Contest. Since then, Muhammad has earned four consecutive victories in the division.

See the full press conference below:

Colby Covington calls for Belal Muhammad’s firing after suggesting he earned a title shot by being white

Colby CovingtonColby Covington wants to see Belal Muhammad kicked out of the UFC after making what he perceived to be a racist comment. Following Leon Edwards’ successful defense of the UFC welterweight title on Saturday night, UFC present Dana White suggested that Colby Covington would be the next man in line to challenge ‘Rocky’ for the […]

Colby Covington

Colby Covington wants to see Belal Muhammad kicked out of the UFC after making what he perceived to be a racist comment.

Following Leon Edwards’ successful defense of the UFC welterweight title on Saturday night, UFC present Dana White suggested that Colby Covington would be the next man in line to challenge ‘Rocky’ for the 170-pound crown. The revelation did not sit well with many fans, who quickly questioned why ‘Chaos’ would be next after going 2-2 in his last four with the two losses already coming in UFC title opportunities.

Leon Edwards added some fuel to the fire during his appearance on The MMA Hour, suggesting there may be some “Dana White privilege” at play, but it was Belal Muhammad’s comment that really struck a chord with the conservatives’ chosen champion. MMA journalist Aaron Bronsteter posted a quote of Edwards questioning why Colby Covington would be next in line. Muhammad then chimed in in a since-deleted tweet, suggesting that ‘Chaos’ is the next man up simply because “He’s white.”

Colby Covington Snapped on Belal Muhammad After ‘Disgusting’ Accusation

After learning of Belal Muhammad’s comment, Colby Covington went off on the streaking welterweight contender, calling for his immediate dismissal from the UFC.

“I’m not going to pick some kid up that is on the bottom of the prelims. You got to earn your way up here and that guy is racist, man,” Covington said to James Lynch. “He was saying the only reason that happened is because I’m white. How is that not racist? That is disgusting. That is despicable, that is f*cking disgusting, man. I would never say that and use someone’s color of their skin by that’s why they got that done. Disgusting, man. He should literally be fined and kicked out of the UFC.

“Oh my gosh, honestly, I can’t even imagine. Everything I worked my entire life for would be sunken, my ship would be sunken,” Covington said. “That would be the end of Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington. But, I would never say something so stupid because it has nothing to do with that ever. I don’t care what color skin you are, man, I look at the integrity inside your heart and the person that you are. I look at other things, how smart you are. It’s just disgusting, man” (Transcription by BJPenn.com).

While suggesting Colby Covington receiving an undeserved title opportunity because he’s white is rather ridiculous considering how many non-white non-American world champions there are in the UFC, one can certainly understand the frustration that both Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad are experiencing. Before ‘Rocky’ had the opportunity to deliver the ‘kick heard ’round the world‘ at UFC 278 last year, he had to win nine straight fights. Muhammad is currently on an eight-fight win streak. Certainly enough to justify a title opportunity, but he is once again being passed up for a fighter who A) hasn’t fought a single man in the welterweight division’s top 10 and B) already received two title opportunities and came up short in both.

There is no denying that Belal Muhammad’s comment was out of line, but the fact remains that few deserve a title opportunity more than him and Colby Covington is not one of those few.

Leon Edwards dismisses Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC run: ‘This Dana White privilege is definitely real’

Leon Edwards, Khamzat ChimaevLeon Edwards, who successfully defended the UFC welterweight belt against Kamaru Usman at UFC 286, isn’t convinced that Khamzat Chimaev is deserving of a title shot.  With a second-straight win over Usman this past weekend, Edwards solidified himself as the true king of the 170-pound division.  Immediately after the fight, there were questions on who […]

Leon Edwards, Khamzat Chimaev

Leon Edwards, who successfully defended the UFC welterweight belt against Kamaru Usman at UFC 286, isn’t convinced that Khamzat Chimaev is deserving of a title shot. 

With a second-straight win over Usman this past weekend, Edwards solidified himself as the true king of the 170-pound division. 

Immediately after the fight, there were questions on who would be Edwards’ next opponent. There are multiple contenders in the welterweight division, including No. 3 ranked Khamzat Chimaev. 

In an interview with Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour, Edwards, who is the first Jamaican-born UFC champion, believes Chimaev hasn’t earned an opportunity at a title shot. 

“Khamzat [Chimaev] is a guy that I got matched up with three times in a row. I took the fight and he didn’t take the fight and then he’s getting rewarded..[when] I got removed out of the rankings,” Edwards said. “This Dana White privilege is definitely real.”

Chimaev has been outspoken about wanting to win UFC gold at welterweight. He labeled Edwards and Usman as “clowns” ahead of UFC 286.

He is unbeaten (12-0, 6-0 in UFC) in his career. His resume includes wins over Gilbert Burns, Kevin Holland and Li Jingliang to name a select few. 

The Chechnya, native Russia hasn’t competed since his controversial weight-cut at UFC 279 last September. Originally scheduled to headline the pay-per-view against Nate Diaz, the 28-year-old missed the 170-pound limit by 7.5 pounds. He was then matched up against Holland, who he defeated by first-round submission. 

Leon Edwards Has A Lot of Options in the 170-pound division

Edwards, 31, doesn’t believe there’s a clear-cut No. 1 contender in his division. Along with Chimaev, the Birmingham, England native has also dismissed a potential fight with Colby Covington, who UFC president Dana White said is next in line for a title shot. 

“Rocky” will closely be watching UFC 287, where welterweights Jorge Masvidal and Burns are scheduled to co-headline the main card.

UFC’s Leon Edwards Won’t Fight Covington Next, Says Dana White Privilege Is ‘Real’

After successfully defending his UFC welterweight championship in the main event of UFC 286 on Saturday, Leon Edwards is putting his foot down when it comes…

After successfully defending his UFC welterweight championship in the main event of UFC 286 on Saturday, Leon Edwards is putting his foot down when it comes…

Nate Diaz claims he’s ‘Still king’ of the UFC welterweight division despite Leon Edwards’ win over Kamaru Usman

Nate Diaz claims he's still king Leon Edwards UFC 286UFC welterweight veteran, Nate Diaz appears to be taking solace and a moral victory in his unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards back in 2021, claiming he is “still king” at 170lbs – despite the latter’s successful title defense against Kamaru Usman at UFC 286 over the weekend in London. Diaz, a former welterweight contender, […]

Nate Diaz claims he's still king Leon Edwards UFC 286

UFC welterweight veteran, Nate Diaz appears to be taking solace and a moral victory in his unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards back in 2021, claiming he is “still king” at 170lbs – despite the latter’s successful title defense against Kamaru Usman at UFC 286 over the weekend in London.

Diaz, a former welterweight contender, lightweight title contender and victor of The Ultimate Fighter during his tenure under the UFC banner, bowed out of the promotion last year, most recently headlining UFC 279 back in September.

The Stockton native took main event honors in a reworked welterweight headliner against former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson – submitting the Oxnard veteran with a stunning fourth round guillotine choke submission.

Linked with a slew of potential moves since his departure from the Octagon – Nate Diaz, who was revealed as an initial candidate to serve as an opposing coach on The Ultimate Fighter 31 against former two-time foe, Conor McGregor, has yet to ink terms with any organization following his exit from the UFC.

Sharing the Octagon with Birmingham native, Edwards at UFC 263 back in June of 2021, Diaz suffered a one-sided unanimous decision loss to the former, however, in the final moments of their five round clash, managed to wobble and stun Edwards on the feet – claiming a moral victory in the aftermath of the main card clash.

Nate Diaz says he lays claim to the welterweight crown despite Leon Edwards’ UFC 286 win

And despite securing his first successful title defense over the course of last weekend in England against three-time opponent, Usman in the pair’s trilogy rubber match – Edwards nabbed a majority decision win over the Auchi native, however, Diaz claims he’s “still king” at welterweight.

“Still (crown emoji),” Nate Diaz tweeted following UFC 286, accompanied by a promotional video of him wobbling Leon Edwards during their June 2021 welterweight showdown.