“I’ll Be Looking Closely at That Main Event”- UFC Welterweight Leon Edwards Eyes a Showdown with UFC 251 Winner

UFC Welterweight Leon Edwards took to Twitter and shared a training video, where the Englishman looked sharp on his feet. ‘Rocky’ expressed a desire to compete against the winner of Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251. The scheduled title fight came together on short notice and will serve as the headlining feature at Yas Fight Island.

Leon Edwards’ tenure in the UFC so far can be best described as turbulent. The Welterweight contender has been on a tear inside the promotion, going on 8 straight career victories. Not to mention, he holds wins over Rafael dos Anjos, Gunnar Nelson, and Donald Cerrone.

His last defeat came in December 2015 against current undisputed champion Kamaru Usman. However, even his extensive resume has failed to help him capture a clear path towards Welterweight gold. His tenure within the company has left plenty to be desired with regards to mainstream recognition.

Leon Edwards: A ‘Rocky’ tenure

Additionally, his non-controversial and linear approach inside the octagon has failed to polarize fight fans. Moreover, hefty draws such as Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal being at the top of the heap has caused Edwards to fade into the background.

MMA fans and pundits believed that he would finally get a call-up to put his winning streak on the line back in May. As talks of negotiations with mega-star Jorge Masvidal began to break down, many believed Edwards would be called upon.

The stacked 170-pound division will perhaps seek to attain clarity following UFC 251 in Abu Dhabi. The general consensus surrounding the bout is that the direction of the division depends on the winner. Leon Edwards will be a keep on-looker as Kamaru Usman defends his world title against the BMF in Jorge Masvidal.

Given the career resurgence that Gilbert Burns has gone through, the 18-3 ‘Rocky’ Edwards has more competition to wade through. With the current landscape of the division, it is a foregone conclusion that he will have to return to action. Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to his next step moving forward.