Leon Edwards has nothing left to concern.
Coming off his first loss in additional than a decade, the previous welterweight world champion is again in motion this Saturday when the UFC heads to London for a loaded combat card in ‘The Massive Smoke.’ In the primary occasion of the night, ‘Rocky’ will go toe-to-toe with fifth-ranked contender Sean Brady inside the enduring O2 Area.
The final time Edwards stepped contained in the Octagon, he surrendered his 170-pound title to Belal Muhammad in a reasonably decisive unanimous choice defeat. Earlier than that, ‘Rocky’ hadn’t misplaced a combat since a December 2015 conflict with Kamaru Usman.
Whereas the loss might have dashed Edwards’ desires of surpassing Georges St-Pierre’s document for the longest win streak in welterweight historical past, it’s additionally had a constructive impact on the UK fan favourite.
“I can go on the market and be free. Earlier than, after I hadn’t misplaced in 10 years, I didn’t wish to lose [because I’d miss out on a title shot] and I used to be making an attempt to interrupt this document of GSP,” Edwards instructed TNT Sports activities. “I used to be placing a lot stress on myself as a result of I didn’t wish to lose a combat due to GSP’s document. However I’ve misplaced now, and now I can go on the market and be younger ‘Rocky.’”
“I’m seasoned now. I really feel like I’ve been by all of it and had all of it,” Edwards added. “There’s nothing to be frightened of, proper? There’s nothing to be frightened of; the what-ifs are now not there. I do know I could be world champion; I’ve carried out it earlier than. I’ve cemented the idea in myself. I’ve been champion, defended it, and I can do it once more.”
Leon Edwards able to remind the entire who he’s
Apart from climbing again into the win column, Edwards plans to make use of this combat as a chance to remind the world simply who the hell he’s.
“I have to go on the market and maintain Sean; what I’ll say on the microphone, clearly, is a title shot immediately and simply let the world know, ‘You have to’ve forgotten who I’m,’” Edwards concluded.
The UFC’s thirtieth occasion in the UK will kick off with a preliminary card at 11 AM ET / 8 AM PT / 5 PM GMT adopted by the primary card beginning at 2 PM ET / 11 AM PT / 8 PM GMT. Take a look at the complete combat card beneath:
Fundamental Card
- Welterweight Bout: Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady
- Mild Heavyweight Bout: Jan Błachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg
- Welterweight Bout: Gunnar Nelson vs. Kevin Holland
- Ladies’s Strawweight Bout: Molly McCann vs. Alexia Thainara
- Light-weight Bout: Jordan Vucenic vs. Chris Duncan
- Featherweight Bout: Nathaniel Wooden vs. Morgan Charriere
Preliminary Card
- Light-weight Bout: Jai Herbert vs. Chris Padilla
- Flyweight Bout: Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Felipe dos Santos
- Heavyweight Bout: Marcin Tybura vs. Mick Parkin
- Middleweight Bout: Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Andrey Pulyaev
- Ladies’s Strawweight Bout: Shauna Bannon vs. Puja Tomar
- Bantamweight Bout: Nathan Fletcher vs. Caolán Loughran
- Light-weight Bout: Guram Kutateladze vs. Kaue Fernandes