Leon Edwards is scheduled to make his comeback this Saturday.
This will be the first time that the former UFC Welterweight Champion steps back into the octagon after his shocking loss to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304. Prior to that match-up, Edwards hadn’t lost a bout in nearly ten years. That’s a very impressive feat. Edwards successfully defended the belt twice and was on track to become one of the longest reigning champions until Muhammad pulled the rug from under him. Now, he’s determined to get back into the win column at UFC London.
But before his fight against Sean Brady, he had to mentally get into a state where he can put on the gloves again. Speaking to Damon Martin of MMA Fighting, Edwards revealed his thought process following his loss at UFC 304.
“I kind of let this loss sit with me for a little bit, just to get it in [my head] that I actually lost first of all,” Edwards told MMA Fighting. “Then from there, I was able to regroup. Even though it was a loss, it still a close fight, right? Like he won three rounds, I won two rounds on the scorecards on my worst night. So it’s easier to put it behind me knowing that it wasn’t fully me in there on my best night. It was easier to put it behind me that way.
“Obviously a loss hurts, and it’s upsetting, but now I’m at a stage where it is what it is. I believe I am the best welterweight in the division. I’ve just got to go out there Saturday night and prove it and just put all my wrongs right and it starts Saturday night.”
Edwards knows that his performance wasn’t up to par in his bout against Muhammad. But he’s moving forward in hopes of becoming a two-time UFC Welterweight Champion.
“I watched it before when it first finished, I rewatched it,” Edwards said about the fight. “I haven’t watched it since. I always knew I felt like it wasn’t me, and watching it back, it wasn’t me. It was difficult to watch the way the fight went and knowing that 9 out of 10 times I beat Belal but that one time he got the win. It is what it is.
“[Now] I’m focusing on becoming a two-time world champion. That’s where my head is at.”
We’ll see if Leon Edwards can get back on track this Saturday in London. Check out the full interview where Leonn talks about whether he personally hates Belal or not, and why it would mean so much to take the title back from Muhammad.