Leon Edwards was hoping to get his title-fight rematch with UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad sooner than expected.
Muhammad was expecting to defend his welterweight title against Shavkat Rakhmonov May 10 at UFC 315 in Montreal, but Rakhmonov couldn’t make that date due to injury. That’s when the UFC opted to pull Jack Della Maddalena from his UFC Fight Night 255 headliner against Edwards on March 22 in London to face Muhammad.
Edwards (22-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) will now face Sean Brady instead. However, before that came together, the former champion offered to run it back with Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC).
“I heard about my replacement fight probably a couple of weeks before,” Edwards said on his YouTube channel. “I was in talks with the UFC. I was trying to step in to fight Belal, but I know that they sold London around me, so it was difficult to take me off the card and leave Jack on the card, because it would be weird to let Jack headline London. I got a new opponent, Sean Brady. It’s a style that I’m used to, a style that I’m comfortable fighting. Yes, I’m looking forward to it. It should be good.”
Edwards says he was told by the UFC that his fight with Brady (17-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) will serve as a title eliminator,
“If Belal beats him, then, like I said, the rematch is there for me as well,” Edwards said. “I spoke to the UFC. They told me that after this win, this a is No. 1 contender fight. Whoever wins this fight for the title, well, when I win this fight, I fight for the title. That is my aim. My aim is to get back that two-time world championship, and the result of the fight with me and Belal, everyone knew that fight wasn’t me.”
Muhammad, who dethroned Edwards to become champion at UFC 304, responded by laughing off Edwards’ claim.
“
someone tell him he got three long years ahead of him.”
someone tell him he got three long years ahead of him
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) March 2, 2025
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 315.
