Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards has revealed that he’ll be headlining UFC Fight Night 255 in London, England on March 22nd.
The 33-year-old told DAZN he’d be fronting the card, but at this stage he doesn’t have a confirmed opponent for the event.
“My goal right now is obviously to get the belt back,” Edwards said. “I’d love to be champion again by the end of next year, or around this time next year. So, I’m just putting steps in place.”
Edwards lost his title to Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision at UFC 304 in July in what proved to be his only appearance of the year.
Prior to that Edwards had gone unbeaten in 13 fights, winning the 170lb title along the way with an instant classic fifth round head kick finish against Kamaru Usman, and then successfully defending the belt twice against Usman and Colby Covington.
As for who he might face next, there’s not too many potential options at the top of the rankings as the No.3 ranked Shavkat Rakhmonov and No.7 placed Ian Garry are set for a title eliminator co-main event at UFC 311 this month, while the current No.6 Colby Covington also fights the 9th ranked Joaquin Buckley a week later.
It feels like there’s little appetite for a trilogy fight with the No.2 ranked Usman given that Edwards has already beaten the former champ twice, so that would leave the most likely options as the joint 4th placed Sean Brady and Jack Della Maddalena, who are currently waiting for their next opponents.
