Current welterweight champion Leon Edwards is gearing up for his third title defense against Belal Muhammad in the main event at UFC 304. As the fight approaches, Edwards has openly discussed his retirement plans, revealing a timeline that aligns with his aspirations.
At 32 years old (turning 33 in August), Edwards acknowledges the impact of age on fighters’ physical performance. With this in mind, he has set his sights on retiring at either 36 or 37 years old. His goal? To leave the sport as the greatest welterweight in history.
Interestingly, Edwards’ son has also weighed in on the matter. According to his son’s advice, Edwards should consider retiring by the age of 35. The rationale behind this recommendation lies in the statistical record of fighters aged 35 and above in title fights below middleweight—where they hold a less-than-stellar 2-33 record.
🚨| Leon Edwards plans to retire at 36/37 and hopes to retire as the greatest welterweight of all time. 🏆
Edwards turns 33 in August.
He also said that his son always tells him to retire by 35 due to the stat of 35+ yo in title fights below MW being 2-33. 😁
[per UFC Day Off] pic.twitter.com/lHMSErJgp5
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) June 19, 2024
One Last Challenge For Leon Edwards Before Retirement?
Before Edwards hangs up his gloves, he faces Belal Muhammad in a rematch. Their previous encounter at UFC 278 ended in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke by Leon Edwards. Despite facing adversity against Kamaru Usman in their previous bout, Edwards secured victory with a dramatic head kick knockout in the final round, leaving just 56 seconds on the clock.
As Edwards continues his remarkable journey in the UFC, retirement looms on the horizon. While fans anticipate further accomplishments from him, Edwards remains focused on cementing his legacy as one of the welterweight division’s all-time greats.
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