Leon Edwards is currently ranked number three in the UFC Welterweight Rankings. However, his next fight isn’t against a top contender or for the title. It is against an un-ranked fighter who is possibly one of the most hyped fighters coming through the ranks. Khamzat Chimaev’s explosive rise through MMA during the times of COVID has captured the attention of many.

However, that outlook has been forced on Edwards, who believes Khamzat isn’t at the level people are putting him at. He told Ariel Helwani:

“I believe he’s over-hyped. It’s hard to judge him. The competition he’s faced is pretty low. So I don’t know, it’s hard to judge him. I’ve been 9-0 in my career. I once had an eight-second knockout in the UFC. I’ve done everything he’s done, you know what I mean? It’s hard to judge him. The UFC is just trying to hype him.”

Edwards also believes that a win over Khamzat will get him the next title shot, something he has also let the UFC know.

“When I go out there and beat him next, I believe I’ll get a title shot.”

Leon Edwards confident in his position

Edwards is currently on an eight-fight winning streak. We would have gotten more clarity on his status at the top of the rankings if his fight against Tyron Woodley wasn’t the first canceled by the pandemic. After Edwards was stuck outside the US, the fight was re-booked and given to Gilbert Burns. Now Burns is the next contender, while Edwards is facing an unranked fighter.

Khamzat has not beaten ranked contenders, however, he is easily destroying the fighter he has faced. It is the ultimate test for the rising fighter to take on someone like “Rocky” Edwards. If he wins, he is catapulted into another level. However, Edwards should be looked at as the favorite heading into this. We have seen him dominate way too many times to dismiss him like this.

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They are scheduled to face each other on December 18.