Former UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards is primed for a comeback next year.
After embarking on a massive 13-fight unbeaten streak, which lasted from 2015 to just this past July and saw him capture the 170-lb. strap, Edwards was handedly defeated by his divisional rival, Belal Muhammad, at UFC 304. The pair had previously encountered each other at UFC Fight Night 187, with that bout ending in a disappointing no contest after “Rocky” unintentionally stuck his finger in Muhammad’s eye, rendering him unable to continue. Prior to the poke, however, Edwards was easily outclassing “Remember the Name” in the stand up, battering the Chicago native.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: (L-R) Leon Edwards of Jamaica accidentally pokes the eye of Bulal Muhammad in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Muhammad Takes Rematch on Enemy Territory
Their rematch, on the other hand, was an entirely different story altogether. From start to finish, Muhammad dominantly controlled the then-two-time defending title holder with his superior wrestling, even dunking Edwards on his head with a slam at one point. The challenger also displayed a new aptitude for boxing by standing up with the champion at several points and held his own, if not beat Edwards in a few exchanges. In front of his opponent’s own home crowd in England, the American put on an absolute clinic and walked away with the biggest prize in all of combat sports.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JULY 27: (L-R) Belal Muhammad punches Leon Edwards of Jamaica in the UFC welterweight championship bout during the UFC 304 event at Co-op Live on July 27, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The loss was a hard pill to swallow for the former champion, who, in a video posted by Myprotein on their Instagram page, Edwards candidly noted, “I haven’t lost a fight now in like nine years. So, I was getting used to that feeling again. I feel like I hate losing more than I love winning.” Before he had his belt snatched from him by Muhammad, the last time Edwards didn’t get his hand raised in victory was at UFC on Fox 17 in December of 2015 after dropping a unanimous decision defeat to fellow future welterweight king Kamaru Usman. “Rocky” would go on to avenge said loss twice in the following years.
Edwards Ready to Start Fresh
With the Muhammad loss seemingly in the rearview mirror, Edwards primary objective heading into 2025 is crystal clear: regain his throne at the top of the mountain. “My goal right now is to obviously to get the belt back, I’d love to be champion again by the end of the year next year.”
The last time the Englishman suffered a defeat, he managed to record a lengthy win streak. Should he be granted an immediate title shot upon his return, it would make his runback with Muhammad one of the few championship trilogies in the weight classes history (assuming Muhammad is still at the top by then). It would also make Edwards one of only three men to ever win the welterweight belt twice, after Matt Hughes and Georges St-Pierre.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JULY 27: Leon Edwards of Jamaica prepares to face Belal Muhammad in the UFC welterweight championship bout during the UFC 304 event at Co-op Live on July 27, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
However, with a likely No. 1 contenders match happening at UFC 310 next month between undefeated phenoms Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry, it may be some time before “Rocky” is permitted another shot at UFC gold. Either way, 2025 will, without a doubt, be a pivotal year going forward in the career of Leon Edwards.
