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Nicolas Atkin

Leon Edwards’ return to the Octagon may have ended in a whimper, but he still feels he deserves a title shot against UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman.
The 29-year-old Briton returned after a year and a half away, having seen several fights cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But his UFC Vegas 21 main event ended in a no contest after an accidental eye poke left Belal Muhammad in tears and unable to see out of his right eye or continue.
“I believe a title shot should be next,” Edwards said at the post-event press conference on Saturday night. “I’ve rebuilt myself back up since last competing against Usman.


“Went on an eight-fight win streak, third most in promotion history [at welterweight] – me, Usman and GSP [Georges St-Pierre]. Tonight was gonna be nine. The writing was on the wall. I was winning the fight clearly.
“I don’t feel I need to fight him [Muhammad] again. I only fought him because all these other guys turned me down. I need to move forward. I feel like I’ve earned my way for a big fight.”
UFC: Ige gets one-punch KO in 22 seconds; calls out ‘Korean Zombie’
The UFC is reportedly targeting a rematch between Usman and Jorge Masvidal, however, with the two possibly set to be rival coaches on the new season of The Ultimate Fighter.
“I’m probably not gonna wait that long,” Edwards said. “Let’s say they fight in September, I won’t fight until the end of the year or next year. I have to be active. It’s been a long time off. I’ll speak to the UFC on Tuesday, see what’s next.”
“I wish Belal nothing but a full recovery,” he added. “I see him start crying, I thought, ‘S***, it must be bad’. Before you see loads of eye pokes in MMA, you kinda take five minutes recovery, fight again. This was a freak accident, one in a million it would happen.”


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC: Leon Edwards calls for title shot next despite no contest after eye poke on Belal Muhammad

Leon Edwards kicks Bulal Muhammad in their welterweight fight during UFC Fight Night event at UFC Apex on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

UFC: Leon Edwards leaves Belal Muhammad in tears with eye poke as fight ends in no contest

Referee Herb Dean calls off the fight between Bulal Muhammad (left) and Leon Edwards after Muhammad was unable to continue because of an accidental eye poke in their welterweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photos: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 13: (L-R) Leon Edwards of Jamaica kicks Bulal Muhammad in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

UFC: Manel Kape in disbelief as controversial split decision loss vs returning Matheus Nicolau leaves him 0-2

Manel Kape punches Matheus Nicolau in their flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at the UFC APEX on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photos: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 13: (R-L) Matheus Nicolau of Brazil kicks Manel Kape of Angola in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

UFC: Angela Hill dominates Ashley Yoder to get back on track in strawweight division

Angela Hill punches Ashley Yoder in a strawweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at the UFC Apex on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

UFC: Dan Ige knocks out Gavin Tucker with one punch in 22 seconds; calls out ‘Korean Zombie’

Dan Ige knocks out Gavin Tucker in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC Apex on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photos: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 13: Dan Ige reacts after his knockout victory over Gavin Tucker of Canada in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

UFC: Yan Xiaonan has one eye on Carla Esparza – and one on ‘China Derby’ with Zhang Weili

Yan Xiaonan poses on the scale during the UFC weigh-in on November 06, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

The UFC's Chinese contingent at Team Alpha Male, including Song Yadong, Li Jingliang and Yan Xiaonan.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 07: (R-L) Yan Xiaonan of China punches Claudia Gadelha of Brazil in a strawweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on November 07, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

The UFC's Chinese contingent at Team Alpha Male, including Song Yadong, Li Jingliang and Yan Xiaonan, eat dinner together.

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


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Leon Edwards ‘probably not gonna wait’ if UFC books a rematch between welterweight champ Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal
