UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards has thrown down the gauntlet, setting lightweight champion Islam Makhachev up for a possible “super fight” in the future. Edwards, who defeated Kamru Osman two years ago, remains focused on his division despite Makhachev calling for a duel.
Makhachev’s Call
Fresh off his UFC 302 win over Dustin Poirier, Makhachev has been vocal about his desire to face Edwards. With aspirations of becoming double champion, Makhachev sees his bout with the welterweight champion as a stepping stone towards that goal. However, Edwards has a different timeline in mind.
Edwards’s Views
Edwards acknowledges the possibility of a future fight with Makhachev but insists both fighters are focused on their current divisions first. “I’d congratulate him. I think we’ve all got some work to do in our division. Well, we’re both going into this regime, so why not, you know.
He just fought lightweight first… so me.” .” feel like you’ve got, like a.” few more lightweights to go through first before even thinking about moving up… Why later in the future [we’re both] the same age, 32 years old, so we’ve had time to . “
Makhachev’s Light Kingdom
Makhachev has three title defenses, and Edwards points out that only one was against a lightweight opponent. The other two were Alexander Volkanovsky, who stepped up from featherweight to challenge Makhachev. This fact underscores Edwards’ belief that Makhachev has a lot to prove in his division before considering moving up to welterweight.
Edwards Winning Twice
Interestingly, Edwards is willing to double as a champion himself. He has his sights set on the middleweight crown and plans to make a move for it next season. The 32-year-old champion discussed his roadmap in a recent interview, revealing his goal to defend his welterweight title several times before attempting the middleweight belt
Edwards Future Plans
Edwards detailed his intended plan: “Defend my belt twice this year, that’ll be four defenses. Maybe one more [defense] next year, that’s five defenses. Then later in the year get a bigger middleweight fight. That’s six title fights… that’s my goal. Two [guards] this year, one next year, then they go up at the end of next year.”
The Way Forward
Edwards is set to defend his title against Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 next month. After that, he aims to continue his reign with several more defenses before challenging for the middleweight title at the end of next year. This ambitious plan underscores his desire to cement his legacy in the UFC by becoming one of the few fighters to hold titles in both divisions simultaneously
A potential clash between Leon Edwards and Islam Makhachev remains a daunting prospect for UFC fans. While Edwards is open to the idea, he remains focused on his current division in the UFC and his future aspirations. Makhachev, on the other hand, has to continue to prove himself in the lightweight division before he can stage such a “super fight”. Anticipation runs high as both competitors continue their journeys, eagerly watched by the MMA world.
