Jorge Masvidal has once again called out Leon Edwards, making it clear that he is ready to move on if Edwards continues to avoid their fight. Masvidal, who announced his return to combat sports late last year, expressed frustration that Edwards has yet to face him after over six years since their rivalry began. This insistence follows Edwards’ recent struggles and Masvidal’s own disappointing run, raising the stakes in the ongoing UFC tension between the two.
Masvidal challenges Edwards to settle their rivalry in the Octagon
In a recent conversation with CasinoHawks, Masvidal voiced his desire for Edwards to accept the matchup.
“Leon Edwards needs to fight me,”
Masvidal said.
“That’s what he should do. I should fight Leon, boom, and seal that chapter. I’m still interested in that. If Leon’s interested in that we can make that happen tomorrow. I don’t think Leon wants it for some reason. He’s a little worried. A little gun-shy. He knows that we’re gonna stand there and bang. And it’s not gonna work out well for him and he cannot outwrestle me.”
Edwards, 33, holds a professional record of 22 wins, 5 losses, and 1 no contest. He recently faced back-to-back defeats against Belal Muhammad and Sean Brady. Meanwhile, Masvidal, at 40 years old with 35 wins and 17 losses, has not won in his last four bouts and last fought in early 2023, suffering a loss to Gilbert Burns.
Masvidal ready to fight anywhere if Edwards refuses
Masvidal was firm in his statement about the fight’s inevitability if Edwards chooses to accept.
“So we’re gonna have to just sit there and trade and that’s not a good thing for him, if he loses to another stand-up guy,”
he said.
“I got respect for him as well. But he’s the one that has a lot of animosity toward me, I wonder why? You want to do it? I’m f—ing here. And if you don’t, I get it. I’m not gonna be a bully. I’ll move on to somebody else. I’ll fight him anywhere, in his backyard, open the gate, set up a little Octagon there, I’ll handle business. Fighting at the soccer stadium, in Australia, on Mars, it doesn’t matter to me.”
As of now, Edwards has not responded to Masvidal’s renewed call for their long-awaited fight.
The potential impact on UFC’s welterweight division
The Leon Edwards Jorge Masvidal rivalry remains one of the UFC’s most anticipated matchups, especially considering both fighters’ recent performances. Masvidal’s willingness to fight anywhere demonstrates his determination to resolve the dispute, while Edwards’ silence adds to the tension. Should Edwards accept, it could reignite interest in the welterweight division and provide a definitive answer to years of speculation. If not, Masvidal’s decision to move on might open new possibilities for his career while leaving this chapter of their rivalry unresolved.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. How did Leon Edwards lose?
A. Edwards was defeated in the fourth round, experiencing his initial loss by a guillotine choke submission.
Q. Has Leon Edwards ever lost?
A. On March 22 at 23:34 GMT, Edwards experienced two losses in a row for the first time in his career. Overall, he has lost five times in a total of 28 fights. Before this, he lost three times by decision and once was disqualified.
Q. Does Leon Edwards know jiu-jitsu?
A. Leon was raised in a tough neighborhood but found comfort in martial arts, thanks to his mom’s support. He began practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, and kickboxing at a nearby gym.
Q. Has Leon Edwards lost?
A. After losing his UFC welterweight title to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in July, Edwards was then defeated by Brady with a guillotine submission. This marked the first time Edwards experienced consecutive losses in his professional fighting career.