Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards is riding a hot seven fight win streak that is only bettered by the current champion Kamaru Usman. However, despite that he is still looking for a fight after his win over Gunnar Nelson in March 2019.
Among the probables for his next fight are former champion Robbie Lawler. Lawler was left without an opponent after Tyron Woodley was forced out of their scheduled fight. Edwards offered to step in as a replacement.
He also praised former lightweight champ and now a welterweight Rafael Dos Anjos for his impressive submission victory over Kevin Lee.
“There’s no news at the moment, I’m still pushing for a big fight,” Edwards told MMA Fighting’s Eurobash podcast. “I’m trying to get that Robbie Lawler fight, but I haven’t heard anything yet.”
“Robbie is a former champion, he’s a big name in the sport. I think I could go in there and dismantle Robbie and I should have a title shot after that. Since the weekend, RDA has gone and got a good win under his belt. That would be a good fight as well.”
The Birmingham native had nothing but praise for RDA who broke his two fight losing skid.
“It was a solid performance, he done really well. He was on a two-fight skid before that and to come back and beat somebody like Lee, it proves a point. He’s a former world champion as well, so I think that’s another good fight for me.”
As for himself, Edwards wants to get closer to a title fight by fighting a top welterweight.
“I’m on a seven-fight win streak now, one more fight puts me on an eight-fight streak and I would accept nothing else but a title shot when that happens. It’s just a matter of waiting now, but I really feel like after one more I’m going to be ready. I just need a high ranked opponent to prove that I deserve that title shot.”
“I’m trying to bridge the gap to the title,” he added. “For me to take on some random opponent, that does nothing for me. I feel like it’s got to be a top-five opponent next and then a title shot. Realistically, I should already be in title contention. My win streak is the second longest in the division next to the champion.”
Interestingly enough it was Kamaru Usman, the current champ, who handed Edwards his last defeat in 2015. Edwards, however, believes that if they fight again the result will be different.
“I’ve watched that fight many times and I’ve played through it in my head many times,” he explained. “I was a very young man back then, when me and him first fought. Now, I know that I could go out there and beat him. I’ve improved leaps and bounds since the first time I competed against him. I know I’ll be the champion if I get that rematch.”
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