UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards continues to eye the distinction of being a two-division UFC champion.
“Rocky” captured the 170-pound gold in improbable fashion, scoring a late come-from-behind head kick knockout over Kamaru Usman back in August 2022. Edwards then defeated Usman in their rematch seven months later via majority decision. As he prepares for his upcoming title defense against Colby Covington, Edwards is hoping to etch his name in history as a double UFC champion.
Leon Edwards Focused On UFC Double Champion Status
During an interview with Sky Sports, Leon Edwards said he feels the door has now been open for him to enter the middleweight division and take the 185-pound hardware.
“Yeah, a hundred percent,” Edwards said. “I feel, especially with someone like Strickland, and I think he’s fighting Du Plessis, so any of them two would be great to fight.”
As Edwards mentioned, Sean Strickland is set to put his middleweight championship on the line against Dricus du Plessis in the main event of UFC 297 on January 20, 2024. Edwards feels confident in his ability to defeat either fighter.
“Perfect,” Edwards said. “I’m big myself. I feel like that’d be perfect, I feel like me going out there and being double champ, first ever, from the UK, anyway, to do it. That’s one of my goals, so that on the cards for sure.”
Edwards mentioned one massive event that such a special champion vs. champion fight can take place on.
“UFC 300,” Edwards said. “I like that. Putting it on that card would be massive.”
“Rocky” did admit that if he were to win the middleweight title, he would probably vacate it and return to welterweight. Such a plan may not go over so well with the UFC, so it’ll be interesting to see if “Rocky” can get the champion vs. champion fight even if he continues his winning ways.
Here is Sky Sports’ full interview with Leon Edwards:
