UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards is focusing on potential fights towards Conor McGregor and Islam Makhachev.
Edwards will make a 3rd defence of his title when he takes on Belal Muhammed in Manchester on July 27 in the primary occasion of the UFC 304 card. The battle might be a rematch of their assembly in March 2021 which led to a no-contest, following a poke to the attention within the second spherical left Muhammad unable to proceed.
The 32-year-old claimed the welterweight championship in 2022 in a rematch towards the then-champion Kamaru Usman. Edwards knocked the Nigerian out in sensational style to change into the primary British UFC champion since Michael Bisping in 2016 and solely the second in historical past.
McGregor will make a long-awaited return to the Octagon on June 29 in the primary occasion of UFC 303 towards Michael Chandler in Las Vegas. For Edwards, a win for McGregor will arrange a possible headline Madison Sq. Backyard bout between himself and the previous light-weight champion.
“To add McGregor to the list of opponents that I’ve defeated would add to my greatness,” Edwards instructed Sky Sports activities Information.
“That is an ideal battle for the viewers, it is a battle that will get everybody speaking. It will be entertaining. To provide him the prospect to win a 3rd belt can be good. To get McGregor and to headline at an iconic venue like Maddison Sq. Backyard can be good.
“I think I’m the better fighter, I’d be the bigger guy in there. It would be a great fight.”
It has been three years since McGregor final fought within the UFC after breaking his left leg within the first spherical of his trilogy battle with Dustin Poirier. Edwards believes McGregor will return with a victory.
“I can see a victory for Conor in a lot of ways. He’s a great puncher, Chandler’s aggressive, smaller than Conor so I’d favour Conor to win the fight.”
McGregor is not the one showdown that Edwards has on his thoughts with MMA followers anticipating a brilliant battle with Makhachev.
Makhachev defeated Poirier in his newest light-weight title defence at UFC 302 on Saturday however has recognized wishes to change into a two-weight champion hinting at an eventual transfer to welterweight to battle Edwards.
“I’d welcome it but I think we both have work to do within our divisions,” Edwards mentioned.
“He just fought his first lightweight. I feel like he’s got a few more lightweights he’s got to go through first before even thinking about moving up.
“It is a huge battle. I really feel like I’ve received work to do inside my division first, then the tremendous fights will come.”
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