Leon Edwards want to see the welterweight division decide a real No. 1 contender as he takes time without work to relaxation and heal some nagging accidents.
The reigning UFC champion at 170 kilos is lower than a month faraway from his second consecutive win over Kamaru Usman, but he’s heard rumors of a possible combat in opposition to Colby Covington in July, probably in London. As a lot as he beloved combating at residence in March at UFC 286, he stated making a fast turnaround to defend his title in July simply isn’t possible. That’s why he’s a return to motion within the fall.
“July is one hundred pc too quickly,” Edwards informed MMA Preventing on Thursday. “I fought in March, just below a month in the past, and I’m nonetheless coping with accidents and stuff that I needed to cope with earlier than I even think about getting again right into a coaching camp. If I’m combating in July, which means I’m going again into coaching camp subsequent week, and that’s simply not doable.
“I’ll look towards the again finish of the 12 months. I might like to do Abu Dhabi in October. I feel that might be a good time body for me to compete, however there’s really no clear No. 1 contender. There’s nobody really on the market that’s really earned it. There’s guys coming off two losses, one win. There’s guys that’s [got] one win, one loss. It’s a troublesome time within the welterweight division. So now I’ve simply received to look in the direction of enterprise. I’ll sit again, speak to the UFC, speak to my staff and see what’s finest.”
Whereas UFC President Dana White has stated Covington is subsequent in line for a title shot, Edwards doesn’t perceive how that makes any sense given the present panorama within the division.
Covington hasn’t fought in over a 12 months together with his most up-to-date win coming in March 2022 in opposition to Jorge Masvidal, which put him at 2-2 in his previous 4 fights. Edwards can’t see how that warrants a title shot with out Covington a minimum of getting yet one more win over one other established contender like Gilbert Burns or Belal Muhammad.
“It’s bizarre – I don’t know why he’s getting pushed a lot,” Edwards stated. “He’s coming off two losses to the man that I simply at the moment beat [in Kamaru Usman], after which went and beat a man in Masvidal that’s simply retired and now sat out for over a 12 months. Turned down Gilbert [Burns], turned down Khamzat [Chimaev], turned down Belal [Muhammad] after which come again to a title shot? It’s bizarre. It’s one thing that I’ve by no means seen earlier than.
“Once I was going by means of the pandemic having combat cancellations, Khamzat pulled out twice, I pulled out as soon as, Masvidal pulled out, all these fights falling by means of – I received faraway from the rankings for that, although it was out of my management and wasn’t my fault. I received eliminated out of the rankings.
“For a man to be match and wholesome, [sit] on the sidelines, flip down three or 4 fights after which say he desires to combat for the title, it doesn’t make sense. I really feel like they need to do it like I did it. Simply shut up and combat. I earned my place. I labored for it, however these guys need handouts and freebies, and that’s not the best way it really works.”
Following UFC 287 this previous weekend, Covington spoke to Submission Radio and stated he was assured he would get a title shot this summer time. If Edwards didn’t settle for the combat, he stated the U.Okay. champ could be stripped of his title.
Edwards couldn’t assist however snigger at that suggestion, particularly contemplating he’s had no formal conversations with the UFC in any way relating to his subsequent combat, a lot much less obtained ultimatums that he has to face Covington.
“There’s no combat supply,” he stated. “The UFC hasn’t even spoke to us. There’s no talks of that combat occurring. He’s speaking simply to speak. However so far as getting stripped, it is a man that’s sat out for a 12 months, turned down combat after combat, so he’s speaking simply to speak. I’m one which all the time took each combat. I took Khamzat when no person wished to combat Khamzat. I took him 3 times when everybody was turning him down. So it’s what it’s.
“I’m coming off a combat in opposition to one of many high welterweights on the earth, Kamaru Usman, just below a month in the past. It hasn’t been a month but since I fought Usman. There’s no stripping right here. I’m keen to combat whoever, at any time when, so long as they deserve it and the timeframe is true.”
Ideally, Edwards want to see Covington, Burns, or Muhammad get one other win to then arrange his subsequent title protection later this 12 months.
At that time, Edwards stated he’ll don’t have any complaints about an opponent. However he refuses to reward anyone for simply sitting, ready and simply hoping for a shot at gold.
“As an alternative of sitting round complaining, combat one another,” he stated. “I don’t perceive why you wouldn’t. When you really consider you’re the No. 1 contender, it’s best to need to combat these guys, to show to all people there’s nobody in my means. It’s me subsequent. For some purpose these guys need to sit out, complain, moan concerning the title shot with out combating.
“I needed to do 10 in a row to get my title shot. These guys are coming off one win, one loss, one win, one loss and demanding title photographs. For certain, I really feel like they need to combat one another. Both Colby vs. Belal or Burns vs. Colby, nonetheless they need to do it. Whoever wins, that’s me subsequent.”
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