Leon Edwards Calls Out Jorge Masvidal After Victory over ‘Cowboy’ at UFC Singapore

Top 15-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight Leon Edwards engaged in a five-round war against UFC legend Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone at UFC Fight Night 132, in Kallang, Singapore.

Edwards went to earn a victory by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47) over the veteran. “Rocky” bloodied Cerrone early in the first round with a knee to the head, which appeared to slow him down in the subsequent rounds. Edwards seemed faster and rangier than "Cowboy" for most of the fight.

Coming into the fight, Edwards had made some comments that generated bad blood between both fighters, when he called Cerrone an "old school" fighter.

“He was on a three fight losing streak until he beat his last opponent. I feel he’s past his sell-by date,” Edwards had said. “He’s been in many wars in his career. He’s been stopped many times. I feel he’s past his prime and I don’t feel there’s nothing he can do now that’s going to change nothing. I feel 100-percent he’s past his prime.”

Despite the trash-talk, Edwards paid respect to his opponent at the end of the fight. “I told him that I respect him and that he's a legend in the sport," said Edwards at the post-fight press conference.

Talking to Dan Hardy in the cage immediately after the fight, Cerrone stated that he had come into the fight sick, and dismissed any talk of retirement.

“This old dog isn’t going anywhere,” Cerrone said. There’s still a lot of fight left in me. I was literally sick all day today, I could barely get out of bed.  I’ve never felt like that.  But I love this, it’s a sickness.”

When asked about Cerrone's claim of sickness on fight day, Edwards responded that he hadn't noticed. "He felt all right in there," he said.

After thanking "Cowboy" for taking the fight, Edwards went on to call out Jorge Masvidal as his next opponent in a possible UFC event in his hometown of Birmingham, England.

"I called out Jorge Masvidal — I'd love to get UFC back to Birmingham and headline there,” Edwards said. “I remember being a kid in the stands and watching it and thinking 'one day I’ll be here.’ We’ve got Tom Breese there, my brother Fabian could make his debut there and it would be amazing for me. I'd like to have one more fight before the end of the year. I’ve had back to back fights so I’ll take a break now and hopefully come back in like November.”

With his victory, Edwards has improved his record to 16-3, with his only losses coming at the hands of Kamaru Usman and Claudio Silva by decision, and a disqualification due to an illegal knee in his third professional bout.