Leon Edwards returned to the octagon in Manchester for UFC 304, facing Belal Muhammad in a highly anticipated rematch. Edwards, who was the heavy favorite and reigning UFC welterweight champion, had previously dominated Muhammad until their first fight ended in a no-contest due to an eye poke in March 2021.
However, this time, Muhammad employed a wrestling-centric strategy that led to Edwards losing his title by unanimous decision after five hard-fought rounds. The defeat also disrupted Edwards’ plans to potentially move up to middleweight for a future title shot.
Kamaru Usman, a former UFC welterweight champion and familiar opponent of Edwards, weighed in on the situation. Speaking on the Pound 4 Pound Show with Henry Cejudo, Usman suggested that Edwards should still consider moving up to middleweight despite his recent loss.
Usman, who has a 1-2 record against Edwards, believes that the move could be beneficial due to the different competitive dynamics in the middleweight division, particularly the lower prevalence of high-level grapplers compared to welterweight.
Usman elaborated on his perspective during the podcast discussion. He pointed out that while Edwards has previously defeated grapplers, his struggle against Muhammad’s wrestling at UFC 304 indicated that a change might be advantageous.
Usman mentioned that if Edwards can add the necessary weight effectively, he could perform well at middleweight. He expressed interest in seeing how Edwards would adapt and regroup following his recent setback.
Reflecting on Edwards’ future, Usman emphasized the potential benefits of moving to middleweight. He noted that Edwards’ fighting style could be well-suited to the middleweight division, where there are fewer elite grapplers like himself and Muhammad. Usman believes that Edwards could find success and potentially thrive in this new weight class, providing he can manage the physical transition appropriately.
In conclusion, Kamaru Usman advocates for Leon Edwards to consider a move up to middleweight following his UFC 304 loss. Usman’s insights highlight the strategic and competitive advantages that such a move could offer Edwards, particularly in light of his recent struggles with grappling opponents.
This perspective adds an intriguing dimension to Edwards’ career trajectory as he looks to rebound from his title loss and explore new opportunities in the UFC.
