Tag: UFC 278

Undisputed UFC welterweight champion, Leon Edwards has been pictured alongside controversial social media outcast, Andrew Tate, as well as his brother, Tristan Tate during a visit to the UAE (United Arab Emirates) for the Birmingham star. 

Edwards, the current undfisputed welterweight champion under the UFC banner, headlined UFC 278 against two-time opponent, Kamaru Usman back in August, Edwards managed to rally from losing three of the four opening rounds – stopping Usman with a thunderous fifth round high kick knockout win.

The victory came as Edwards’ eleventh outing undefeated, as he avenged a prior 2015 unanimous decision loss to Usman during their rise to prominence in the welterweight division.

Leon Edwards is expected to fight Kamaru Usman in a trilogy fight next year

Expected to meet with Auchi native, Usman in a title trilogy clash in the new year in a potential U.K. return for the UFC, Edwards insists the former titleholder must now agree to his terms if he wants to secure a rubber match.

“It’s in Wembley, bro,” Leon Edwards told Troopz TV. “We’re going back to the sites. I’m not going over (to the U.S.) now. I did my job. I went over to (Usman’s) backyard and took it (the title) off him, so now he has to come to my backyard. I’m not going over there again. It’s on my terms now. He has to come over here.” 

“They (the UFC) said early next year, March-ish,” Leon Edwards explained. “Early next year over here in the U.K. – the stadium show. I think they’re coming to Wembley because it’s probably cold in March. It might be in Cardiff.”

Edwards, who is currently visiting the UAE, was pictured alongside the aforenoted controversial social media influencers, Andrew, and Tristan Tate – posing for a snap.

“UFC welterweight champ Leon Edwards appears to be hanging out with Andrew Tate, the far-right kickboxer banned from social media for his anti-women rhetoric, in the UFC,” Bloody Elbow reporter, Karim Zidan tweeted.

UFC welterweight champ Leon Edwards appears to be hanging out with Andrew Tate, the far-right kickboxer banned from social media for his anti-women rhetoric, in the UAE pic.twitter.com/gFRWD2Jcjq

— Karim Zidan (@ZidanSports) October 12, 2022

Also pictured with Edwards in UAE is the self-proclaimed pioneer of mixed martial arts in the region, Tam Khan – who has infamous ties to Chechen warlord, Ramzan Kadyrov, as well as inviting the U.S. sanctioned Irish reputed cartel leader, Daniel Kinahan to his TK MMA gym in Dubai earlier this year.

“Also pictured is Tam Khan, the self-proclaimed pioneer of MMA in the UAE,” Tam Kham has ties to Ramzan Kadyrov and invited Irish crime lord Daniel Kinahan & Tyson Fury to visit his TK MMA gym in Dubai earlier this year,” Zidan tweeted. “Both Kinahan and Kadyrov are under U.S. sanctions.”

Also pictured is Tam Khan, the self-proclaimed pioneer of MMA in the UAE.” Tam Khan has ties to Ramzan Kadyrov and invited Irish crime lord Daniel Kinahan & Tyson Fury to visit his TK MMA gym in Dubai earlier this year.

Both Kinahan and Kadyrov are under US sanctions pic.twitter.com/brROZ1SmG4

— Karim Zidan (@ZidanSports) October 12, 2022

Rallying to turn in a spectacular fifth round high kick knockout win over former pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman back in August, undisputed UFC welterweight champion, Leon Edwards has predicted a rather straightforward win over the Auchi native in the pair’s expected trilogy. And doubts the former titleholder’s ability to make wholesale improvements to avoid another loss.

Rematching atop August’s UFC 278 card in Salt Lake City, Utah – Edwards managed to avenge a unanimous decision loss to Usman back in 2015, landing a hail mary, fifth round knockout to clinch the undisputed welterweight crown.

Undefeated in his last 11 straight fights, Edwards, a staple of Team Renagade BJJ & MMA – managed to turn in a brutal left high kick knockout win over Usman in the final round of their pay-per-view headliner, slumping the Nigerian-born force and handing him his first promotional defeat.

Tied to an immediate title trilogy rubber match with Usman in the new year, Edwards recently explained how he expects to return to the Octagon by March of next year – possibly in line with a potential U.K. return for the UFC. 

Leon Edwards previews his 2023 rubber match with Kamaru Usman

Commenting on his performance against Usman earlier this summer, Edwards insisted that the now-former champion was at his best in Utah, while he himself was at his absolute worst. 

“It was one of the worst performances of my career, and that was the best (Kamaru) Usman we’re going to get,” Leon Edwards told the Daily Star during a recent interview. “That’s what he does in fights that’s the best we will see. And it was the worst of me.”

“I think it will be a totally different fight – with the same result,” Leon Edwards said of a 2023 trilogy bout against Kamaru Usman. …”I thought the altitude played a big difference, my body wasn’t reacting, but it felt slower, I was slower to react. We took all the precautions to try to avoid it but yeah it played a massive part.”

Before his shocking KO loss to Edwards, Usman had turned in an impressive series of successful title defenses against Gilbert Burns and twice defeating rivals, Jorge Masvidal, and Colby Covington – each.