By Leon Edwards, the reigning UFC welterweight champion, is setting his sights on legacy-defining fights against Conor McGregor and Islam Makhachev. However, his immediate focus is on the upcoming title defense against Belal Muhammed at UFC 304, scheduled for July 27 in Manchester. This bout is a rematch of their previous encounter, which ended in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke.
Edwards, who became the first British UFC champion since Michael Bisping by defeating Kamaru Usman in 2022, is keen on a potential bout with McGregor, especially if it could take place at Madison Square Garden. McGregor, known for his striking prowess, is making his return to the Octagon on June 29 at UFC 303 against Michael Chandler. Edwards believes McGregor has the edge due to his punching ability and size advantage over Chandler.
Looking beyond McGregor, Edwards is also interested in a super fight with Makhachev, the current lightweight champion who recently defended his title at UFC 302. Makhachev has expressed interest in becoming a two-weight champion, which could lead to a future welterweight clash with Edwards. Nonetheless, Edwards acknowledges that both he and Makhachev have commitments within their respective divisions before such a super fight can materialize. He emphasizes the importance of handling business in his division first, setting the stage for these high-stakes matchups to unfold in due time.
