Reigning UFC Welterweight champion Leon Edwards has turned down the opportunity to return to action this July in London, and instead wants to fight at the UFC Abu Dhabi event scheduled for October this year.
I feel like Abu Dhabi would be perfect: Leon Edwards
“Rocky” is currently on a two consecutive series of victories over former 170-pound champion Kamaru Usman, having defeated the Nigerian at UFC 278 in August last year to clinch the title and then defending it at UFC 286 this March.
Following UFC 286, Dana White announced that Colby Covington, who served as the backup fighter, would be the next to challenge Edwards for the title, with Covington claiming that Edwards will be stripped off the belt if he doesn’t accept the fight this summer.
However, during a recent interview with Sky Sports, Edwards has dismissed Covington’s claims and stated that he is eyeing a return in the Abu Dhabi card in October rather than London in July.
“No [he will not feature at UFC London as far as he’s concerned] unless it comes with some stupid money, the bag always talks!” said Edwards, “unless the stupid money comes I don’t see it, I’d literally have to get back in training camp next week. I fought under a month ago. March to July I don’t think makes sense.”
In the last year or so I’ve fought three times I think,” he went on, “I’d love to fight now towards the end of the year. The Abu Dhabi card would be great. That would be perfect, I get time to nurse my injuries, I get time to get back into it, I feel like Abu Dhabi would be perfect.”
All that being said, Edwards revealed that the only way he would have fought at UFC London in July if Jorge Masvidal had defeated Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 last weekend, then he would take on “Gamebred” for the title defense. However, having lost to Burns, Masvidal announced retirement and without him, Edwards is thumbing down UFC London.
“Maybe [if it was Masvidal]. There’s a story behind it, about the UK and the backstage thing, I know the fans would have wanted it,” Edwards continued, “Even Masvidal wouldn’t have earned it if he beat Gilbert, there’s a story there and bad blood there and something there to sell.”
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