Leon Edwards is targeting Conor McGregor. While Edwards gears up to protect his welterweight championship against Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in Manchester, England on July 27, he is already thinking about a possible big fight in the future. Merely one month before, McGregor is set to make his highly anticipated comeback to the octagon to face off against Michael Chandler in UFC 303. If both fighters win, Edwards thinks a fight with McGregor is the logical next move.
Edwards’ Ambitions for a Historic Fight
Edwards is eager to welcome McGregor to the welterweight division with a high-stakes bout. “One hundred percent. Why not? Let’s give him the opportunity to become a three-division world champion,” Edwards recently said on The MMA Hour. “Give me the opportunity to take out a guy like Conor McGregor. New York, that would be perfect. That is the fight. I feel like he’s got to take out Michael, I take out ‘No-one-remembers-his-name’ and we’ll go from there. We’ll go to New York, MSG, let’s go!”
Edwards, who is scheduled to fight Muhammad at UFC 304, sees a fight with McGregor as a lucrative and legacy-defining opportunity. “That’s the fight. We’ve got business to take care of, but that’s the fight. That’s what needs to happen and it should happen,” Edwards emphasized.
McGregor’s Journey and Comeback
Conor McGregor, the first UFC fighter to simultaneously hold titles in two weight classes, has faced difficult times in recent years. After becoming the featherweight and lightweight champion in 2016, McGregor has encountered numerous obstacles, such as a severe leg injury during his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. This injury has kept him out of action for almost three years. Currently, McGregor is preparing to come back in a welterweight fight against lightweight veteran Michael Chandler.
Edwards’ Confidence in McGregor
Despite McGregor’s recent struggles, Edwards remains optimistic about the Irishman’s chances against Chandler. “I think he beats him,” Edwards said. “If you watch them stylistically, I feel like Conor is a very sharp shooter, counter-striker, and Chandler plays off his aggression. He likes to entertain the crowd and scrap. He’s too small, as well. I feel like he’s going to walk onto the back hand. It’s going to be a good fight, but I’m favoring Conor for this fight.”
Leon Edwards wants Conor McGregor if he wins at UFC 303: ‘That’s the fight’ https://t.co/huPoq18sI1
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) May 26, 2024
The Road Ahead for Edwards and McGregor
Both fighters have significant challenges to overcome before a potential matchup can become reality. Edwards must defend his title against the formidable Belal Muhammad, while McGregor needs to prove his form against Chandler after a long layoff. Edwards acknowledged the focus required for their upcoming fights, stating, “I heard a little noise but nothing to get excited about. Like I said, we’ve both got fights on our hands that we need to get past first before getting that far in. I have to go out there and take care of Belal, he goes out there and takes care of what he needs to take care of, and we’ll go from there.”
Anticipation Builds for UFC 303 and UFC 304
The upcoming pivotal fights have the MMA world excited and talking. McGregor and Chandler will be the main event at UFC 303 on June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, potentially leading to a significant fight against Edwards if they both win. Facing McGregor is an opportunity for Edwards to secure a large sum of money and solidify his reputation by beating a major figure in the sport.
As the supporters and experts anticipate the results, the energy around these fights keeps growing. UFC 303 and UFC 304 are set to provide intense action, featuring a pot ential historic fight that may capture the attention of the MMA community.
