MMA Fighting - Leon Edwards on 'Coward' Colby Covington Turning Down Fight, Title Shot Hopes in 2021

Episode Date: March 9, 2021

Leon Edwards addresses his upcoming fight at UFC Vegas 21 while calling Colby Covington a "coward" for turning down a chance to face him. He also discusses Khamzat Chimaev's situation with COVID-19, fighting Belal Muhammad and his hopes for a title fight rematch with Kamaru Usman later this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. Damon Martin MMA fighting, and today my interview is with Leon Edwards. Obviously, he had a very tumultuous 2020. After multiple fight cancellations, he got COVID-19, and then he was scheduled for a couple of different fights against Hamzatamaya. Both of those fell apart as well. Now he is taking on Bilal Muhammad in the main event at UFC Vegas 21, so we're going to talk to Leon about that fight,

what fights didn't come together for this card, and his aspirations for a title shot later this year. Leon, man, how is everything? I know it's been kind of a crazy wild ride to finally get here to where you were actually about to fight again. I don't know, excitement, relief, how are you feeling? I think it's both, really. I think it's excitement, relief to finally be here in Vegas

and finally got to fight ahead. So I'm excited and looking forward to going back out of them, showing the fans of what I'm about again. I can't wait. Yeah. What kind of give me like this roller coaster because we talked, you know, obviously when the fight with Chimae was made, I think the second time,

I can't remember at this point, but we talked when the fight was made, you were obviously getting ready for that. It kept getting delayed. And then when he fell out of this fight, again, we're kind of playing the waiting game. Kind of give me an idea, like what this last, like just this last month has been like for you.

It's been a frustrating time, like you said, to have the fight taken away from a, three times now. This March was a third time. You got rescheduled. So it was a frustrating up and down a month, but I'm happy that Bilal Mohammed stepped up and gave me an opportunity to still compete,

to still fight on the same date, not being pushed back again, you know what I mean? So it's been a frustrating time, but like I said, I'm happy. I'm finally relieved to be in Vegas and be able to compete next week. Yeah, absolutely. Now, I don't want to,

I don't want to spin on a negative subject here, Leanne, but I got to ask because after Comza fell out of the fight, you know, obviously right away, we heard that maybe it was going to be Colby Covington because we heard that, you know, it looks like it's going to be Mazdaal and Usman, or at least that's what it seemed like and Colby was kind of the odd man out. Well, all right, perfect. You fight, you fight Colby. That's a big fight.

Guaranteed number one contenders fight. And then it doesn't happen. So I don't know. You tell me, like, what was your, like, what were your thoughts when you heard the late? I get, you know, I'm sure you saw his comments. Like, he just didn't want to fight. Yeah. I can't expect.

This man been running since forever. You know what I mean? Every time my name gets mentioned, he runs and makes excuses. So I expect nothing more from a coward. You know what I mean? I expect this is the ways it would approach it. The U.S. he wanted to fight.

They went to him, came to me, they said, would you fight Kobe? I said yes. They went to him, and he just says no. So I suspect that that's what he's going to do. And you cannot force a man to fight, you know what I mean?

Obviously, it would have been great to, have him in there, put him in there to smash his head in. But now here we are, Belah Muhammad. Yeah, yeah, and I know, I mean, listen, Colby did that before with the whole situation when he was supposed to fight for the title. It didn't happen. He ended up getting passed over,

and that's how Kamar Usman ended up getting the title shot. Do you feel like your willingness, you know, to fight a guy, you know, because again, I mean, again, I don't mean, this is obviously, we know this based on the rankings. You don't get as much beating of Bala Muhammad as you would, you know, another guy, but you still took the fight.

Like, that willingness, you got to imagine that pays off in the long run, right? Yeah, for sure. I'm showing that I am willing to fight anybody. Hamza, for example, there was no reason for me to fight him. You know what I mean? He's a new guy in the U.S. the U.S.A. up and come in.

I didn't need to fight, but I stepped up on a foot and I was willing to fight him. Now Bilal Mohammed. I didn't need to fire him either. I could have waited out and wait for one of these top guys, but I'm not in the waiting game. I'm a young man, and I need to be active. So, yeah, I think all this showing the year,

that I am willing to compete. I am willing to fight any of these guys. And it doesn't matter who's first or who's next. If I believe I am number one, then who gives the shit who is next. You know what I mean? So, yeah, that's it, really. Just showing the U.S. I'm willing to go and hopefully put me in the good books

and get me to where I want to get to. Yeah. Before I get to Bilal Mohammed, let me ask you. Of course, you had to match up with Hamza match several times. Unfortunately, you know, obviously I know we texted about, you know, when you got COVID, it was unfortunate, of course, that he got COVID.

But now I'm sure you've seen the situation where, you know, he even mentioned, you know, the possibility of retirement. I don't know that's going to happen, but he got hit with it pretty hard. He's still dealing with. I know he's out there in Vegas right now. I know there was never any, you know, personal grudge with Kamsad. But as the guy who went through COVID yourself, like, what are your thoughts on what he's going through right now? Obviously, I think number one is his health, right? He's making sure he can recover and hopefully get to compete again.

He's a young man. So when I've seen that post, my... like him in retiring, obviously I thought, I felt, oh, that's fucked up, you know what I mean? Obviously, it's not in my rare view right now to compete against. Number one, it's his health and him recovering and hopefully getting back to his family while and doing well, really.

So that's my fault, really, just making sure he's in a good place and he's recovering. Yeah. Yeah, I know you went through it yourself. I mean, obviously, it's, you know, it can take a toll on it. Yeah. Yeah, for sure, exactly.

I went through November, December, and the same thing. I lost a lot of weight. My lungs was messed up, and I'm happy to be back now in full health, and happy to be able to compete again, back up to normal weight, back to normal strength. And it was a weird thing. I've never felt it before, you know what I mean? So I can't understand what it's going through from.

Not as bad from what I'm hearing from him, but I had it really bad and I couldn't compete, you know what I mean? So I feel for the man in ocean well. Yeah, absolutely. And again, maybe you'll revisit that fight down the road. I know that fight on, in terms of like, you know, rankings and where you've been on your career, never really made sense.

Again, you know, the guy was a hyped up guy and, you know, all credit for him getting there. But at this point, it feels like, you know, now you kind of move beyond that, right? Yeah, for sure. It is no way in my plans for the future at the moment. Obviously, I think it's you, when it does get healthy, number one, then each you work his way up.

I think they put him in number 15 now or 14 so let him fight one of them guys in 15 and work his way up because his first three wins is no one ranked in the top fair in the UFC you know what I mean so at the moment there's no way in my vision for a future fight

like you said I didn't need to fight him I did it out of the willingness and to show the company that I was willing to compete and that's it really just wishing well and I'm looking for looking ahead and looking towards a title shot Yeah. So now let me ask you about Bilal Muhammad because, of course, he had a, you know, a solid win his last fight over Diego Lim, and he's ranked in the top 15. He accepts the fight on short notes. Now, again, this is, you know, higher, higher reward, lower risk for him because he's getting a chance to fight the number three guy in the world. You know, if he loses, people are going to say, well, he does, you know, he, he wasn't, you know, he wasn't the best guy in the world, and that's okay. And so he's taking, there's always a risk. I mean, you get knocked out. There's always going to be a risk. I don't care what you know.

doing but do you have respect for a guy like below that did so you know did willing to step up when maybe a guy like colby wouldn't yeah for sure 100% um like you said this is a sport up that this is what built a sport right fighters fight and now it's like a social media game um about who he says what in social media and it's all just talks now you know what i mean for for for for the fight game there's no one was the final everyone he's ducking in like the one and one and two ducking each other um three and four's ducking each other it's like a a weird space now to be in the fight game, you know what I mean? So you have to put respect on a man's name like Below to have stepping up in competition

to face a man like me, you know what I mean? So I respect it, but make no mistakes. When it's time to fight, I'm going there to take his head off. And that's just it. Yeah. Have you been impressed by what you've seen out of Below? I mean, he is obviously. He didn't get to the top 15 by mistake.

Unlike some other guys, he did earn it. He's fought a lot of good guys. You know, he's beating some decent guys out there. Obviously, I think he has. a really strong showing in his last five with Diego, but I want to get your thoughts. What did you think or what have you thought of the last? I mean, he's a right.

He's a good durable, durable opponent. He pushes the pace to the fight, and he is an all right opponent. Every time he stepped up, though, from what I've seen of his great, he's always failed. You know what I mean? He's a good mid-tier fighter, I would say,

for the U.S.E. And I feel this is a total different level to what he's used to and what he's been against him. That's it, really. He's a good durable tough opponent, but this is levels above him, and I cannot wait to go out there and show him. As D.C. always says, there's levels to this game. Is that right? 100% there's levels to this shit.

Now, you know, as, I mean, listen, I know we've talked about this. I'm not going to go back in time, but, you know, you talked about how ready you were to go out and kind of make a statement with the Tyron Woodley fight. Unfortunately, it didn't happen and all the delays and everything had with COVID and all that kind of stuff. I know Belal's not the guy, you know, obviously it's not Colby or maybe Mazudal the guys of the higher end of the division that would have, you know,

getting kind of cemented your place there. But do you feel like you still get a chance? Main event, obviously coming back, you still get a chance to make a pretty big statement against the guy like Bala Muhammad, right? Like, this is still kind of like a way to make a statement. Yeah, 100%. That's the first guy like Belah Mohamed and go out there and make a statement.

Like you said, if I go out there and fucking lose to this kid, then all these title fights and all these big fight scores away, right? So I have to go out there and make a statement and just show that there's levels to this, like you said. and I deserve in a top tier of promotion. And that's just it, really, just taking him fully serious, and focus 100% and Belah Mohab. Because if I go out there and lose,

then all them fucking towel fights and no more contender fights goes away. So that's my main priority is to focus fully on him and we go from there after that. Yeah. Now, again, I'm not looking past Bilal, but considering where you're at in the division and we kind of know where things are at in terms of the welterweight title, and you're mind,

Leon, do you believe a win here should cement you as the number one contender in the division? Yeah, for sure, 100%. After this fight, there'll be nine fights in a row. That's the third most in the World War to history of the promotion. You know what I mean? So I truly believe so everyone else had their go, had their chance to fight for a total. And the door came up short. Cobby got stopped.

Burns got stopped. Master of all got grounded out. So I feel like I've worked my way back up. I've earned this spot. I truly believe I deserve next shot of the towel. Yeah. I know it's not a done deal, and it sounds like maybe negotiations have kind of stalled a little bit,

if you've seen what's going on, you know, doing interviews and manager statement, things like that. But what did you make of the whole, you know, Usman and Mazadol possibly, you know, jumping into a rematch after they just fought last July? Yeah, seen it? I just thought I was frustrated, right? Because like I said, I truly believe I deserve the shot of the title,

and to have him call out of a total, master though. I was like, oh, fuck's sake. But looking at, looking at him, from his point, if he, it's like, easy work for a high payday, right? So for him, for him, it's a good strategy for a fight,

but for, you ever know that I deserve a title shot. I think everyone knows that. And hopefully after this fight, I can prove my case and we can get a fight doing. Yeah. I mentioned it before. You know, when negotiations stall or negotiations kind of fall out, one guy may be asking for too much money,

Whatever the case may be, we've seen this time and time again. I mean, Mazinol was in talk to fight, Usman. Couldn't get a deal done. They went to Gilbert Burns. Obviously, I know you want to get paid as well, so I know you're not going to go out there to fight for peanuts. But if you go out there, you dispatch Bilal Muhammad, do you feel like, you know, that may put you in a position

where you can kind of, you know, whatever talks are going on, you can kind of shut them up and jump in there and get your title shot. Yeah, for sure, 100%. If I got, when I got there, they looked good and Pulalalahua and call out on Comaray Usman, And like you said, I'm in the perfect position to jump the line and give me what I deserve, what I've been deserving, you know? It ain't like I've only been like one or two wins. I've been, this is my ninth win in a row.

You know what I mean? So I truly believe I deserve it. And hopefully, after this fight, we go to the UFC, have a meeting and see what's on table. Yeah. Now, let me correct you there, Leon. You're not jumping the line because you're absolutely in line. You deserve the shot.

You don't, you're not jumping anybody's line. I got to be honest with you. Exactly, exactly. I worked for it and I deserve it. I've fought him before, Usman. I've lost to him five, six years ago. I've rebuilt myself, worked for it, and I did it the hard way, you know?

Like, no one gave me shit in this game and rushed me to nothing. Like, I had to grind it out, and this is what I enjoy doing. So after this fight, I truly believe I deserve the next title shot. Yeah, and I know there's, we've said this many times.

I don't need to restate it, but it's true. I know there's nothing personal with you and Camaro. Usman has actually said nothing but great things about you. And obviously, he keeps mentioning your name as a guy he would fight again. So I imagine that makes you feel good knowing. He's willing. It's obviously, I know he mentioned Mazwithal, but I don't think Usen would ever turn down a fight against you.

Nah, not. Like you said, after he spoke of me, he's always put me in good lives, right? He's never really said, oh, neither the guy doesn't deserve it or something like that. You know what I mean? He's always saying, yeah, he's there, you know what I mean? So I want to say he's running from me, like other guys, other guys, clearly they're making excuses not to fight me, you know, and like I said, after his fight, we go from there and see what's next.

Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. So March 13, you get back in there, you know, this has been a year and a half of frustration. Do you just have to take it all out on Balah Muhammad? Is that kind of the unfortunate circumstance for him? Yeah, that's what it is. I'm going in there to put all the frustration, all the year and a half left, all on his head, you know what I mean? And I'm coming forward and going there to put him away.

So I'm looking forward to it and I cannot wait. Absolutely. Well, Leon, I know we've done so many interviews over the last year and a half. I'm just excited that like now we actually get to talk about a fight, right? It's like days away. Exactly. You know what I mean? So I cannot wait, man.

I'm looking forward to it. And like I said, grateful for Belavis stepping up to making me compete and then I push me back. And I'm going in there to put in a masterclass and put on a show. It's going to be an entertaining fight. Absolutely. Well, Leon, thank you, as always for the time. Obviously, best of luck coming up in the fight. I'm sure we will catch up afterwards, and man, I cannot wait to see you back in action next weekend. Yeah, for sure. Thank you.

All right. Talk to you soon, buddy. Bye-bye. Bye-bye. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network.