Welterweight kingpin Leon Edwards carried the champion’s persona inside the 02 Arena as he triumphed over the challenger, Kamaru Usman, in their trilogy at UFC 286. As he stood tall in the post-fight interview, the speculations of Colby Covington as next in line loomed large. While he brushed aside the conjectures as he basked in the glory, UFC president Dana White conferred the next title shot to ‘Chaos’ the same evening. However, ‘Rocky’ voiced distaste as he believed the American fighter’s recent exploits didn’t justify the entrusted privilege to him. Since then, the UFC champion’s recusance has occupied the headlines. Despite the reluctance, the UFC veteran Chael Sonnen believed the same didn’t amount to fear.

Notably, the analyst spoke his mind on the latest segment of his podcast, Beyond The Fight. In addition, he pointed out the 31-year-old champion’s “no” to acknowledge the Clovis native, as the challenger was not strictly enforced.

Sonnen believes attaching scared with Leon Edwards is wrong

The former UFC fighter thus mentioned, “I believe what he [Leon Edwards] said, tell him [Colby Covington] to go back to Miami. He’s saying, go book a venue and I’ll see in Miami.”

Following this, the submission grappler said, “Leon didn’t back down from anybody. Leon just f*cked Kamaru Usman for a third time. You’re never going to convince me that Leon is scared.”

“When a guy fights Kamaru once, that’s a man. You fight him two and three times; I mean excuse me. Don’t use the word scared with Leon,” he added later on.

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Afterward, the former ESPN personnel unveiled why the British fighter said no to the fight.

Sonnen discloses Edwards’ “no” to the fight was code talk

The MMA fighter-turned-analyst then told, “But he did say no, which I also believe is code talk for ‘that guy annoys me. That guy is under my skin’.”

Further, he contended that the Brit didn’t want to do a favor for the #2 ranked Welterweight. While the Kingston native didn’t mind the competition, putting the UFC gold on the line, and his skills versus Covington’s, he didn’t want to do him a favor.

What do you think of these statements by UFC veteran Chael Sonnen about UFC champion Leon Edwards? Do you believe the welterweight champion is afraid? Let us know in the comments below.

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