UFC Welterweight Contender Leon Edwards ‘100 Percent’ Plans to Fight in 2020

Leon Edwards has been the odd man out in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s welterweight division thus far in 2020.

After his proposed UFC London headlining clash in March with Tyron Woodley fell through due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Edwards has seen the many of the top contenders at 170 pounds booked in the ensuing months while he stays stuck on the sidelines.

"It's an annoying position to be in," Edwards told ESPN. "I'm the only guy in the top 10 who is not living in the U.S., I believe. But these guys have to fight me soon. I'll 100 percent fight this year. I'm 29 and I need to stay active. These guys in the top 5 are all [in their mid-30s]. I'm the youngest in the top 15, probably. I want to be active.”

Currently, Gilbert Burns is slated to challenge reigning champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 256 at the end of the year; Woodley will lock horns with Colby Covington later this month and there are rumblings that Jorge Masvidal will book a “BMF” rematch with Nate Diaz early in 2020.

Edwards, who has a history with Masvidal, is especially frustrated that “Gamebred” is looking for a rematch with Diaz.

“Stop being a p—-y and f—-in’ let’s fight, right? You say you’re the Street Jesus and you’re [the] BMF, let’s prove the case,” Edwards said. “You can’t go out there and fight a guy you just f—-in’ battered for three rounds and then do it again and say you’re the BMF. That’s not how it works, so stop being a p—-y and step up.”

Edwards has won eight fights in a row but hasn’t competed since outpointing Rafael dos Anjos in UFC on ESPN 4 main event in July 2019. If no options present themselves, Edwards would be open to a showdown with Nick Diaz, who is rumored to be interested in making a UFC return.

"I've done enough to deserve a big fight, a big name -- I don't think any fight will do," Edwards said. "At least a name to motivate me to go out and do the job. I heard Nick Diaz is coming back; that'd be a good fight. He's a popular name. It would be good to beat Nick, that'd be nine in a row. But any of these big names, I believe I am better than them.”