It may never get much bigger for Leon Edwards than winning a trilogy fight against one of the greatest welterweight champions in MMA history, Kamaru Usman, in front of his countrymen in London.
All the same, the Birmingham-based UFC champion loves the idea of main eventing in another iconic fight locale Saturday.
“That’s, like, every kid’s dream, right? To go out there in your hometown, headline and event in your hometown against a guy like Kamaru Usman as well as defending the belt. That’s, like, every kid’s dream,” Edwards told The Post in a recent video call ahead of UFC 296 in Las Vegas. “And now, to be living out another one of my dreams … headline an arena in Vegas — a sold out arena in Vegas — I just keep ticking little things off my bucket list.”
Having already vanquished rival Usman, next up for his second 170-pound title defense is Colby Covington — Usman’s twice-vanquished rival.
While perhaps the most recognizable name among active UFC welterweights, and currently the No. 1 contender in the promotion’s rankings, Covington is certainly not the most active of 170 pounders.
Since falling a second time to Usman in November 2021 at the Garden, Covington competed just once when he picked up a victory over friend-turned-nemesis Jorge Masvidal in March 2022 — and was attacked by Masvidal outside a Miami steakhouse a few weeks later.
Given the 21 months of inactivity, Edwards (21-3, 10 finishes) deems his attention-grabbing challenger a product of a flawed rankings system.
“If it was up to me, I would like the rankings to run as they should,” said Edwards, who has not lost a fight in nearly nine years. “If you win your fights, you fight for a world title, right? You don’t sit out for two years — beat a guy like Masvidal, and you sit out two years — turn down all the younger guys that want to fight for a title, turn them all down, and then fight for a title.
“He’s got one of those spoiled-brat syndromes that I don’t really like, and we’re just two different human beings, two different men.”
Had UFC president and CEO Dana White not doggedly stuck to the idea of Covington (17-3, eight finishes) as the next welterweight title challenger, the opportunity likely would have gone to Belal Muhammad, unbeaten in his last 10 with the lone fight that didn’t go down as a victory being ruled a no contest — against Edwards — in March 2021.
The UFC 296 main card also features a pivotal clash at 170 pounds between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Stephen Thompson, with the winner seemingly right behind Muhammad in the line to vie for Edwards’ belt.
Edwards, 33, conceded he doesn’t make the decisions on who next challenges him and declined to say who he thought would be most deserving over the 35-year-old, who Edwards likes to point out has not defeated an opponent under age 35 since winning the vacant interim welterweight title in 2018.
Covington had shown no signs of slowing down before his hiatus, and Edwards says he’d prefer to beat a formidable version of his opponent rather than one who is on the decline.
“I’m prepared for the best Colby Covington ever; I want a Colby Covington everyone says is good,” said Edwards, who admits it’s possible that won’t be the case. “I want that guy. I don’t want no different-looking Colby Covington.”
Usman and Covington had fought tooth-and-nail in their two-fight series and were perceived as the clear Nos. 1 and 2 at 170 pounds in the world for years before Edwards’ shocking head-kick upset last year and subsequent impressive decision victory in March.
The two bear some similarities, with each an accomplished collegiate wrestler, but Edwards views Usman’s style as more of a challenge to his own than that of Covington.
“[Usman] was a bigger, stronger, fitter guy. He was more imposing in the cage,” Edwards said. “I feel like you can see the difference when he fought Colby Covington and [Covington] couldn’t push him back. He was more imposing than him. That’s a harder style, more than just a guy with no power. [Covington] can throw 500 punches but can’t hurt you.”
If things go Edwards’ way at T-Mobile Arena, he’s already made it known he plans to call for a shot at the middleweight title, which will be up for grabs next month when Sean Strickland defends for the first time against Dricus du Plessis.
Both middleweights are former welterweights, which offers Edwards some optimism he can be a champion at 185 pounds.
“It shows I can do it because they’ve done it,” Edwards said. “They went up and had success, so why can’t I? I’m on the longest win streak in the welterweight division, so definitely.”
Edwards’ brother Fabian made an unsuccessful bid to beat Bellator middleweight champion in September.
That familial familiarity with true middleweights also emboldens him that he could claim champ-champ status.
“He’s quite a thick boy,” said Edwards of his brother with a laugh. “But I walk around quite heavy as well. When I’m in fight camp, I get pretty big as well.”
The notion of Edwards taking a detour from actively defending his title ruffled the feathers of Muhammad and Thompson, with each throwing cold water on the idea of further delaying their prospective championship opportunities.
Edwards’ message to them: Do something about it.
“Do something to stand out, and maybe I’ll stay,” Edwards says with a chuckle. “That’s it. No one is standing out. Everyone is just talking s–t and not doing nothing. Let’s see what happens next.”
And what would happen if all of Edwards’ plans come together?
Say he beats Covington, turns around and becomes England’s first two-division UFC champion by adding the middleweight belt to his trophy case; what’s next?
“I’ll probably just get it and go back down; just get it and just bounce,” Edwards says, enjoying the idea. “I’ll probably just get it, achieve my goal and just go back down. My goal is to be the best welterweight of all time.”