Rising above the disgusting trash talk he endured throughout fight week, Leon Edwards produced an absolute clinic to put Colby Covington in his place, and now the world is excited for what’s next. So, to get the ball rolling, we’re looking at the five men that ‘Rocky’ could get in the cage with next.
Blessed with lightning strikes and an unrivalled fight IQ, the Birmingham brawler has proven beyond doubt that he’s the best welterweight on the planet. However, the five fighters below believe they more than have enough in the locker to knock the champion off his perch.
1) Belal Muhammad
In their first contest back in 2021, it was Edwards who was getting the better of the encounter until an unfortunate eye poke brought an end to proceedings. With the American unable to continue, the referee deemed the bout a no-contest, leaving both men with a bitter taste in their mouths.
In the two years since, Muhammad has gone on an incredible winning streak, picking up victories over the likes of Gilbert Burns and Stephen Thompson, making a solid case that a rematch with Edwards would be far more competitive than the first time around.
2) Sean Strickland
Having taken over the welterweight division, Edwards is open to moving up to middleweight, setting up a super fight with Sean Strickland. And while the 185-pound King stuck up for the Brit after Covington mocked his father, if the pair ever met in the cage, they’d throw their newfound friendship to one side in the name of giving the fans a war they’d never forget.
3) Shavkat Rakhmonov
On Saturday evening, Shavkat Rakhmonov bagged the best win of his career, forcing Stephen Thomson to tap via rear naked choke. The Kazakh has solidified his place as the ‘Boogeyman’ of the division, but with his resume only getting stronger, it’s getting to the point where ‘Nomad’ can’t be denied.
4) Khamzat Chimaev
Desperate to smash everybody in his path, Khamzat Chimaev won’t rest until he has the belt around his waist. And while he’s moved up to 185 pounds, with discipline, making welterweight is more than doable. Therefore, with a fight with Edwards having been made in the past, the UFC could well consider giving the world the collision we all want to see.
5) Gilbert Burns
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Despite losing his last bout to Belal Muhammad, Burns’ legacy will always carry great weight. Therefore, if he emerges victorious against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 299, another shot at the belt could be in sight.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
