British UFC boxer Leon Edwards has been absent on the stage since July 2019. He will return to this Sunday morning at UFC Fight Night 187, also known as UFC Vegas 21, against Belal Muhammad in the leading match.
Having a 10-2 record table, Leon Edwards currently has a series of 8 consecutive victories. According to UFC Dana White, if Edwards defeated Muhammad impressively, he would be the next person to have the opportunity to fight against the Welterweight weight championship.
“100%,” White shared in an interview about whether Edwards had the opportunity to become a champion.
The only problem that Edwards could meet was that he would have to wait for Jorge Masvidal to play with UFC Welterweight Kamaru Usman first. Although White has refused to confirm that Masvidal and Usman will be the coach of the TUF program, he also suggested that it was the plan of the tournament. That means Edwards will fight the winner in the Usman vs Masvidal to compete for belt, unless the UFC rotates 180 degrees and decides to edwards for the TUF training contract instead of Masvidal.
As for Belal Muhammad, the boxer agreed to fight Leon Edward, although he did not have much time to prepare, Dana White gave all his compliments. As a martial artist who is just outside the top 10, Muhammad's dare to face a top 5 puncher is very close to the championship is a praiseworthy courage.
“Muhammad has just had a great match and that guy feels himself should fight people who have a higher position in the food chain. When this opportunity appears, he has grasped it, do you understand?
“I really like the boxers who know how to step up and take the opportunity. I love the fighters to play continuously right after they just have a good performance. I like the fighters who are always active and maintain their names. Everything cannot be better,” White said about Muhammad after he agreed to replace Khamzat Chimaev for health reasons.