Leon Edwards is completely focused on his upcoming fight against Sean Brady at UFC London this Saturday. He understands that a convincing win could significantly boost his chances for a title shot.
This fight marks Edwards` return to the Octagon since losing to Belal Muhammad last July. Highly motivated to reclaim the welterweight title, Edwards explained that a very early fight time in his previous bout in England, combined with some nagging injuries, prevented him from performing at his peak.
Therefore, Edwards is determined to dominate Brady, aiming for a quick path back to title contention.
“My focus is clear,” Edwards stated. “Right now, it’s all about Sean Brady this weekend. After that, it’s about the title. That’s my sole aim.”
Edwards was initially scheduled to face Jack Della Maddalena, but plans changed. Della Maddalena was moved to a title fight against Muhammad after Shavkat Rakhmonov, the top welterweight contender, became unavailable due to injury.
The timeline for Rakhmonov`s return is uncertain. However, Edwards recognizes the UFC`s dynamic nature and believes an impressive victory over Brady could allow him to overtake Rakhmonov in the title race.
“I truly believe that’s where I stand,” Edwards said. “I feel like everything is falling into place, like fate is guiding me back to my belt. But it all begins this Saturday night. I need to go out there, handle business, and then we’ll see what happens.”
Edwards is avoiding any future plans until after the Brady fight. Assuming he is successful, he is even prepared to remain ready for a fight in May, should Della Maddalena`s title fight encounter any unforeseen issues.
“You never know in this sport,” Edwards commented. “Injuries and unexpected events happen. It’s a crazy game, so you have to stay prepared and adapt.”
With Rakhmonov unable to compete in May, Edwards sees a genuine opportunity to surpass him by delivering a strong performance against Brady. While Rakhmonov`s title shot was generally accepted, his recent victory over Ian Machado Garry was closer than many anticipated. Prior to that fight, Rakhmonov had a perfect finishing record, including six consecutive wins in the UFC.
However, Rakhmonov couldn`t finish Garry, who proved resilient throughout all five rounds and even threatened a late submission after taking Rakhmonov`s back.
Edwards has never shied away from any opponent, including Rakhmonov. Watching the Garry fight provided Edwards with insights into how a potential matchup with Rakhmonov might unfold.
“From what I recall, the Rakhmonov versus Garry fight wasn`t as exciting as I expected,” Edwards noted. “Considering Rakhmonov`s hype as this dominant force in the division, it turned out to be just an average fight. Not the thrilling spectacle everyone predicted.”
“I know they had trained together previously, which might explain their cautious approaches. But the fight definitely revealed openings in both Shavkat and Ian’s games. I believe that was evident in their fight.”
Despite his desire for a title shot and consideration of other contenders, Edwards emphasizes that his immediate and sole focus is on Sean Brady.
He hopes Brady will come ready to engage, as Edwards is confident their matchup presents the perfect stage for a highlight-reel finish in front of his home crowd.
“I anticipate Sean will engage,” Edwards said. “He’ll provide opportunities for a finish, and that’s what I’m aiming for. I’m going out there to finish him and demonstrate to the world that I am still the best welterweight in the division.”
“I believe his fighting style will create openings for me to hurt him, and I’m looking forward to capitalizing on those.”
