Leon Edwards

2023 - 3 - 22

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Image courtesy of "CBSSports.com"

Why picking a true No. 1 contender for UFC welterweight champion ... (CBSSports.com)

Edwards has rejected the idea, showing more interest in the winner of Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal at UFC 287. Belal Muhammad is having a tough time cutting ...

Burns finds himself in the middle of the pack with neither the business nor sports merits to get the title shot over his contemporaries. It really says a lot about the nature of the business that Masvidal, someone currently on a three-fight losing streak, is on the mind of the UFC welterweight champ. It's a tremendous fight between two of the division's most successful present fighters, but it's a terrible disservice to Muhammad. Beating Magny and Masvidal in succession gives Burns a lead over Covington on paper, but not by a big enough margin to overcome UFC's infatuation with the American fighter. 2, behind only Usman, in the official UFC welterweight rankings but that is a consequence of how little the rankings shift. It's a major shame for Chimaev, who likely has a harder path at 185-pounds with the likes of Robert Whittaker in the mix. Pair that with the numerous fouls Edwards caught Usman with at UFC 286 and there is a story to be told. He does not have an active winning streak and is coming off a win against Masvidal, the latter of whom is currently on a three-fight skid. Covington has done nothing inside the cage lately to justify a world title fight. But in the aftermath of the win, the title picture isn't quite so settled. Covington is the biggest benefactor of the mess at welterweight. The presence of Khamzat Chimaev is fading from welterweight but the echoes are still there.

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Image courtesy of "ClutchPoints"

Why Leon Edwards must absolutely accept Colby Covington fight ... (ClutchPoints)

Despite having qualms about facing Colby Covington, it's a fight UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards must absolutely accept.

Masvidal turns 39 later this year and even if he was a couple of years younger, it’s hard to see oddsmakers not side with Edwards in that matchup where a win would make it three title defenses. His fanbase (particularly in the United Kingdom) has certainly increased tenfold in the past year, though, and he could increase it even further by facing Covington. All in all, it’s a very winnable fight for Edwards. Additionally, the striking pedigree of Edwards would allow him to punish Covington on the feet while he’s attempting entries or unloading with strikes. All that said, “Rocky” would be better served accepting the fight for a number of reasons. The Birmingham native defended 11 of Usman’s 15 takedown attempts at UFC 286 this past weekend.

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Image courtesy of "MMA Fighting"

Colby Covington warns Leon Edwards against declining title fight ... (MMA Fighting)

Colby Covington reacts to Leon Edwards saying he won't give Covington a title fight next, and issues a warning to the UFC welterweight champion.

He knows he’s going to get beat by me and he’s afraid.” “He gets stripped [if he doesn’t take the fight],” Covington predicts. Open your stupid ears and listen to the advice that I give because it’s the only advice I’m going to give to you, Leon: You don’t cross your boss – and you will learn the hard way. You think Dana’s going to listen to them when they were trying to get him canceled? Look at the road I had to take to get there. “It’s just funny, man, like all of the f****** fans are trying to go after Dana, ‘Dana, Dana, Dana, you can’t let him get the title shot.’ Dude, you think Dana is going to listen to all of these f****** pathetic journalists – and they’re not even journalists, they’re f****** groupies. I took the [Chimaev] fight and [Covington] didn’t take the fight and he’s getting rewarded for not taking the fight. “You haven’t even defended the title. “This is the only piece of advice that I’m ever gonna give you, because next you’re going to get your ass whooped,” Covington told MMA Fighting. You think Dana’s going to listen to some of these f****** idiot, so-called journalists? “First off, you don’t make the calls,” Covington said. In fact, on Monday’s edition of [The MMA Hour](https://youtube.com/live/YJgq9xWdPSA?feature=share), Edwards said he would turn down the fight with Covington because the former interim champion doesn’t deserve it.

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Image courtesy of "MMAWeekly"

Leon Edwards says Colby Covington is not getting the next title shot (MMAWeekly)

UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards has no intentions of fighting Colby Covington next despite UFC president Dan White saying Covington gets the next ...

I took the [Chimaev] fight and [Covington] didn’t take the fight and he’s getting rewarded for not taking the fight. There’s no way you’re getting beat twice by the guy that I just beat twice, went out and beat [Jorge] Masvidal, and then sit out for a year and a half. Not even tweeting or nothing, just go missing for a year and then randomly pops up at the weigh-ins and it’s like, ‘OK, he’s fighting for the title next.’ It makes no sense at all.

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Image courtesy of "Yahoo Sports"

Henry Cejudo: Colby Covington will beat UFC champ Leon Edwards ... (Yahoo Sports)

Henry Cejudo thinks Colby Covington is a bad stylistic matchup for UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards.

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Image courtesy of "Mirror.co.uk"

Colby Covington accuses Leon Edwards of "cheating" during ... (Mirror.co.uk)

Leon Edwards retained his UFC welterweight title with a trilogy win over Kamaru Usman in London at UFC 286, but potential next challenger Colby Covington ...

The guy sat out for a year and then slid into a title shot. He’s a piece of sh*t, and I didn’t make much of the fight." He successfully defended the belt in a trilogy match-up last weekend, [this time outpointing his rival on the judges' scorecards.](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/mma/breaking-leon-edwards-beats-kamaru-29494542) However the 31-year-old has suggested he would rather accommodate previous rival Masvidal given the extra intrigue over a showdown. Potential upcoming rival Covington has furiously slammed Edwards for his performance and suggested that the Briton tried to deny the claims after the fight. I mean, the guy did everything you could possibly do to cheat in the fight.

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Image courtesy of "The Sun"

Leon Edwards 'will be STRIPPED' of UFC title by Dana White if he ... (The Sun)

LEON EDWARDS has been warned he'll be 'STRIPPED' of his welterweight title if he refuses to fight Colby Covington.The UFC brass earmarked the controve.

Like I said, I’m the king. When I was trying to get my title shot people were saying, “Who is he?” "Now I’m the king. “He will get stripped. [Covington](https://www.the-sun.com/who/colby-covington/) reckons White will relieve the Brummie of the belt if he stands firm on his refusal to fight him. [Edwards](https://www.the-sun.com/who/leon-edwards/) has no intention of fighting the former interim 170lbs champion, who UFC supremo [Dana White](https://www.the-sun.com/who/dana-white/) wants to see compete for the belt next.

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Image courtesy of "talkSPORT.com"

Leon Edwards claims Colby Covington is benefitting from 'Dana ... (talkSPORT.com)

Leon Edwards insists he will not be fighting Colby Covington next.'Rocky' upset the odds in a second successive fight against Kamaru Usman to defe.

I took the [Chimaev] fight and [Covington] didn’t take the fight and he’s getting rewarded for not taking the fight. Look at the road I had to take to get there. “Khamzat [Chimaev] and me were calling each other out for years. For that reason, he’s not a worthy challenger in the eyes of the champion. “I feel like he should go out there and fight one of the top 5 guys, top 6 guys, and we’ll go from there. Listen, he ain’t getting a title shot next fight.

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Image courtesy of "Mirror.co.uk"

Colby Covington warns UFC champion Leon Edwards "not to cross ... (Mirror.co.uk)

Covington was in London last weekend to weigh in as a backup fighter for Edwards' world title bout with Kamaru Usman, and has been promised the next shot at ...

Sat out, not injured, I just don’t get how he just slides in for the world title shot when there’s other guys in the division that’s been active, been fighting, didn’t sit out. "Open your stupid ears and listen to the advice that I give because it’s the only advice I’m going to give to you, Leon: You don’t cross your boss – and you will learn the hard way. Edwards is not thrilled with the idea, telling reporters on the night: “I don’t know how that makes sense. Edwards is not as keen on the bout, despite White's insistence that it will be the next fight in his reign as champion. “I don’t know when we’ll do it, but that’s the fight that makes sense,” White said immediately following the event. He claims to have suffered injuries during the incident, which followed a comfortable victory to put the controversial fighter back in the win column.

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Image courtesy of "Daily Mail"

Francis Ngannou claims 'Kamaru Usman didn't train properly' for ... (Daily Mail)

Kamaru Usman was injured for much of his training camp prior to the UFC 286 defeat by Leon Edwards, revealed Francis Ngannou. He claims Usman could not ...

He didn't have [time] to train properly because of a lot of injuries, but he was there. I believe it,' he said. I believe he's going to get it back. Ngannou added: 'Usually when people get knocked out, they don't come back in the fight. 'I know that he didn't train, he didn't have to train properly because of a lot of injuries, but he was there.' 'He was there.

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