Time catches up with everyone, including UFC champions. Last summer at UFC 304, former welterweight champion Leon Edwards faced Belal Muhammad and suffered a devastating loss that cost him his title and snapped his 12-fight winning streak. After a brief hiatus, the Brit returned in March to face Sean Brady but left with an even worse defeat, this too in front of a home crowd. Now, next week at UFC 322, ‘Rocky’ has another chance not only to make a comeback but to reclaim his place among the elite.

Ahead of his bout, he shared his roadmap for returning to the top: “After MSG, I put on the best performance of my life; that sets me up for one more fight in March or April. Then I fight for the title in the summer,” he declared, as he prepares to face Carlos Prates. While Edwards is determined to regain championship glory, an MMA analyst has, however, delivered a reality check on just how challenging the road back to the UFC welterweight title will be.

Leon Edwards faces critique as Luke Thomas calls him “not a big star… not a big draw”

At Madison Square Garden, UFC 322 will feature the welterweight title as champion Jack Della Maddalena takes on Islam Makhachev in the latter’s 170-pound debut. Naturally, #4 Leon Edwards doesn’t want to be left out of the conversation. Yet, senior journalist Luke Thomas remains doubtful about the success of Edwards’ “Three-Step Plan.” On Submission Radio, Thomas remarked that ‘Rocky’ has “Not a penny” chance of returning to title contention anytime soon.

Although Thomas acknowledges Leon Edwards as a “good fighter,” he believes the Brit needs more wins to climb back into the title picture. “But he’s going to win two fights and be right back in the title picture? No, he’s not. He’s not a big star, he’s not a big draw. He got thoroughly smashed by Brady, and obviously, he got largely beaten up to the fifth round anyway by Belal. No, he’s probably not going to get the wins he needs, and even if he does, the division is going to move on without him.”

On the Brits’ prospects as a welterweight champion, Thomas told Submission Radio, “Once you get separated from a UFC title, it’s very hard to get it back… For most guys who touch the title, once it gets taken away, it never comes back. And I suspect Leon’s one of those guys.” His words really underscore just how difficult it is to regain momentum after back-to-back losses.

Edwards, now 0-2 in his last two outings, finds himself in a situation somewhat reminiscent of what former champ Kamaru Usman once faced. Meanwhile, on the same UFC 322 card, No. 2-ranked welterweight Sean Brady is set to face Michael Morales. The winner could secure a title shot following Makhachev vs. JDM, significantly raising the stakes.

For Brady, the opportunity carries both major potential and considerable risks, especially compared to Leon Edwards.

High stakes for Sean Brady at UFC 322 in light of Edwards’ return

The arrival of Islam Makhachev has made the welterweight division even more stacked. Fighters in this division are naturally bigger than the Dagestani sensation, adding new challenges to the title picture. While the outcomes of the upcoming bouts remain guesswork, critics and analysts widely regard Brady as a leading candidate for the next title shot.

Since joining the UFC, Brady has proven himself a force to be reckoned with, securing victories over Leon Edwards, Gilbert Burns, and Kelvin Gastelum. Now among the division’s top fighters, he is set to face No. 8 contender Michael Morales, who, at just 26 years old, has many years of potential ahead in his career. Luke Thomas sees significant risk for Brady in this matchup, with a loss carrying major consequences.

Speaking about Leon Edwards and Sean Brady’s title picture on Submission Radio, Thomas said, “because Brady arguably could have been in a spot for a title shot. He was a little bit outside, but could have been there after just destroying Leon Edwards and then beating Gilbert Burns before that. He was in a good position to get a title fight, at least a number one contender fight, which I’m going to guess, if he wins, he’ll probably still be in a good position for. But Michael Morales is f–king huge. He is young. He has very good takedown defense, extremely athletic… Brady getting the fight there is gonna be a struggle.”

What’s your take on Luke Thomas’ analysis at UFC 322? Once Islam Makhachev vs Jack Della Maddalena is done, who do you think will earn the next title shot? Share your thoughts below