UFC fighter ‘Rocky’ Edwards extends unbeaten streak to 12
Published:Tuesday | March 21, 2023 | 12:46 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
REIGNING Ultimate Fighting Champion (UFC) of the welterweight division, Jamaica-born British fighter Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards, has poured cold water on the prospects of fighting former welterweight champion, American Colby Covington, in his next title defence as he believes there are other fighters that are worthy of a title shot in the welterweight division.
The 31-year-old Edwards, speaking in his post-fight interview at the weekend, said he has now earned the right to ‘cherry pick’ who he faces next, and the highly rated Covington is down the pecking order.
“I don’t know how that makes any sense. He hasn’t fought in over a year and a half. He has just sat out while not being injured, so I don’t know how he gets to just slide in for a world title shot. There are other guys in the division that have been active and fighting. I’m the king now, I’ve earned my way and I feel like I should decide who’s next,” he stated.
Edwards’ comments came on the heels of his successful title defence against ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ Kamara Usman via a majority decision at the London O2 Arena on Saturday night. It was his second victory over Usman in three meetings. With his latest victory, Edwards improved to 21 wins from 24 fights as he extended his unbeaten streak to 12. He added that based on Usman’s tactics on the night it was evident that the powerful kick he landed to the head of the Nigerian in their previous meeting was still playing on his opponent’s mind.
“I was attacking his legs and his body. I knew he would have been worried about the kick, based on what happened the last fight, so I was using my kicks to set up my hands, which would have bring his hands down and land a head kick. But fair play to his team who had a great game plan and to him for being disciplined throughout the fight,” Edwards remarked.
Fighting out of the ‘Team Renegade’ camp, Edwards believes his victory will inspire other fighters within the group to achieve their goals. He added that he believes in the mantra that ‘confidence breeds confidence’.
“I feel that confidence breeds confidence. With me achieving this goal, it’ll always ricochet down to the people like Tom Breese and everyone. When I was coming up,, there wasn’t anyone to look up to and say, ‘Iff he could do it, then I could do it’. Now, the amateurs are feeling it. Everyone is feeling it as we all want to grow and get better and better,” Edwards stated.