"I don’t want to fight Izzy" - Despite planning to move up to middleweight, Leon Edwards says he will not fight Israel Adesanya
Leon Edwards aims to defend his welterweight gold for the third time when he faces Belal Muhammad in the main event of UFC 304 this weekend. While 'Rocky' has previously expressed interest in moving up to middleweight and chasing a second belt, he recently shared that he would not fight Israel Adesanya.
Speaking with Nik Hobbs of Sky Sports, the welterweight champion was asked about pursuing double champ status, responding:
"Why not? I feel like, I'm only 32 years old, I've got enough time to do both. I'm big enough to do them both, to move up. So, I feel like I want to get at least another one this year, get a couple more next year then move up. I mean, I'll be what? 33? 34?... Late '25, early '26, that is my plan."
When asked who he would like to face at middleweight, Edwards claimed:
"I don't know. I don't care. Whoever is the champ at the time... Not Izzy, I don't want to fight Izzy. Not because I'm afraid of him, just that we've built a relationship where it would be weird to fight him. I feel like I'd have to build myself up in my brain to compete against him, but everybody else, then yeah."
Check out Leon Edwards' comments about Israel Adesanya below:
Adesanya could very well be holding the belt by the time that Edwards is ready to chase a second UFC title. 'The Last Stylebender' is set to make his return to the octagon in the main event of UFC 305 next month when he challenges Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight throne.
Leon Edwards discusses eye-poke that ended Belal Muhammad clash at UFC Fight Night 187
Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad will finally have the opportunity to settle the score when they clash at UFC 304 this weekend. The pair previously headlined UFC Fight Night 187 in March 2021, however, they were unable to get out of the second round after an accidental eye poke rendered the latter unable to continue.
The welterweight champion discussed the incident on UFC 304 Countdown, stating:
"I was going for a cross head kick. As I went for the cross, my finger kind of, like, touched, just under his eye... The way he was crying out to end the fight, I actually thought I went into his eyeball, but I didn't. It kind of went, like, just under his lid... Skill for skill, I was the better man."
Check out Leon Edwards' comments on his eye-poke against Belal Muhammad at UFC Fight Night 187 below (starting at the 11:35 mark):
Edwards was ahead on all three scorecards at the time the bout was stopped after winning the first round. He will put his 13-fight unbeaten streak on the line, while Muhammad enters with a 10-fight unbeaten streak.