Leon Edwards isn’t satisfied Colby Covington deserves a shot at his UFC welterweight title and would relatively settle an outdated rating with Jorge Masvidal subsequent.
The Birmingham fighter defended his title with a majority resolution win over Kamaru Usman at UFC 286.
It was the third assembly between the outdated rivals, with Edwards successful the second with a brutal knockout final August to win the belt earlier than going the gap and getting the win on the judges’ scorecards in London on Saturday evening.
It attracts a line underneath the rivalry with Edwards trying to transfer on along with his profession. Talking after the battle, Dana White confirmed Covington, who was watching on from ringside within the capital, is subsequent in line for the title shot.
Covington has not fought since a unanimous resolution win over Masvidal in March 2022 and whereas he has White’s endorsement, Edwards was baffled as to why the American is subsequent in line.
‘I don’t understand how that is smart,’ Edwards advised a press convention.
‘He hasn’t fought for a over a yr. He’s been sat out, not injured, I simply don’t get how he simply slides in for the world title shot when there are different guys who’ve been energetic and combating.
‘I really feel like I’ve earned my means so I really feel I ought to resolve who I battle subsequent.’
Edwards has a historical past with Masvidal, brawling with the Florida fighter backstage on the O2 Enviornment again in 2019 with a battle between the 2 failing to materialise final yr.
Masvidal is ready to tackle Gilbert Burns in April and will ‘Gamebred’ get by that problem, Edwards would like to see him get the nod over Covington.
‘If we’re going pay-per-view smart, if Masvidal beats Burns then that’s the battle to make,’ he stated.
‘However I simply don’t see how Colby sits out for a yr, not injured, and simply slides in. I needed to work by 12 fights to get right here. Once I was attempting to get my title shot folks have been saying, “who’s he?”
‘Now I’m the king. And he’s allowed to leap the road? Like I stated, I’m the king. I’ll resolve who’s subsequent.’
On Masvidal, he added: ‘I simply don’t like him. So I really feel that’s the one which needs to be made. There’s a storyline there to inform. If he will get the job executed I’ll take into account it, if he begs me I’d let him slide in.’
Conor McGregor in the meantime is ready to make his lengthy awaited return to the cage with a bout towards Michael Chandler slated for August.
‘Infamous’ will make his return at welterweight and has designs on changing into a three-weight world champion. A bout towards McGregor would symbolize a massively profitable choice for Edwards who welcomed discuss of that battle happening – however insists the Irishman should ‘show his case’ within the division first.
‘Anybody can get it,’ Edwards stated. ‘Show your case within the division and I’ll provide you with a title shot. I wish to be an energetic champion, I’m solely younger so I wish to be combating. So if he proves his case, I’ll battle him.’
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