The Consequential Layoff Is Met With Open Arms
By Eddie Sanchez
“It was all good just a week ago.” For Leon Edwards, this hits especially hard right now. Why is one of the best welterweights in the world, who is on an eight fight win streak in his feels right now?
Well, he was just dropped from the UFC rankings, where he was most recently ranked third in the division. OUCH! So what gives?
Leon last fought in July 2019, when he defeated Rafael Dos Anjos to bring his UFC record to 10-2; the last of those losses coming nine fights ago against the current champion, Kamaru Usman.
Throughout his career, he consistently fought two to three times each calendar year and generally would fight every five months or so, that is until these past fifteen months.
Getting dropped from the rankings would have one think that he has fallen off, but Leon would let all who are willing to listen know that he is feeling like Dr. Dre with 2001. If you catch that reference, more props to you.
If you frequently check the UFC rankings however, you will still find Leon listed, but nevertheless, the fact that this discussion broke Twitter during fight week for UFC 254 shows how impactful this move would be.
We were supposed to get his return back in March against Tyron Woodley, but COVID had other plans. Since then however, it has been very quiet surrounding his name. He had the opportunity to take a short notice title fight with Usman (in July), the man who last beat him, but he declined.
Perhaps this ordeal will end up being a good thing for Leon. It seems to have lit a fire for him.
We know he has support from Dana. Last week he stated the following to BT Sport, “I want to get Leon Edwards a fight, a good fight that means something, we’re working on it.”
Last month there were whispers that fifth ranked Wonder Boy could be next, but those quickly dissolved as he sought even higher ranked opponents like Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.
Luckily, we have another man out there who is having trouble finding his fourth opponent and Leon has now been humbled to consider other options.
Khamzat Chimaev has entered the chat!
This is a welcome sight to see, so thank you UFC for offering the gentle nudge.
Back in October, Leon had this to say to MMA Fighting in early October:
“He has to at least beat somebody in the top f**king 25 before you go straight to f**king fight No. 3. At least fight somebody in the top-25 or 30 first. Then we can go and start talking from there, but the MMA community is literally if you feed them anything, they’ll buy into it. It is what it is.”
Life comes at you fast, but Dana and the UFC come at you faster!
Dana confirmed today, on the Jim Rome show, that he has secured the bout between the new rivals Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev for December 19th.
Leading up to the Fight Week, much of the talk will likely surround Khamzat considering his first three UFC bouts were each dominant finishes in a span of 66 days.
Leon will be extra motivated considering the veteran is being disrespected, but if he is victorious, the title shot is sure to be just around the corner.
While the past fifteen months have been turbulent, as situations do, they work themselves out. In this case, Leon will fight the new kid on the block who was seemingly having trouble securing a legitimate opponent.
On December 19th, we will see who’s story this truly belongs to, because for now it’s an open opportunity.
