MMA Fighting - Leon Edwards Talks Jorge Masvidal Retiring, Colby Covington Claiming He'll Be Stripped of His Title and the Timeline for His Next Fight

Episode Date: April 13, 2023

UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards speaks to Damon Martin about his win over Kamaru Usman, Jorge Masvidal retiring and his regrets that fight never happened. He'll also address his timeline to return to action while responding to Colby Covington, who recently claimed that Edwards would be stripped of his title if they don't fight next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support for this show comes from the Audible Original, the downloaded two. Ghosts in the Machine. The Earth only has a few days left. Rosco Cudulian and the rest of the Phoenix colony have to re-upload their minds into the quantum computer, but a new threat has arisen that could destroy their stored consciousness forever. Listen to Oscar winner Brendan Fraser reprised his role as Rosco Cudulian in this follow-up to the Audible original Blockbuster. The Downloaded, it's a thought-provoking sci-fi journey where identity, memory, and morality collide. Robert J. Sawyer does it again with this much-anticipated sequel that leaves you asking,

What are you willing to lose to save the ones you love? The Downloaded 2. Ghosts in the Machine. Available now, only from Audible. It's hockey season, and you can get anything you need delivered with Uber Eats. Well, almost, almost anything. So no, you can't get a nice rank on Uber Eats. But iced tea, ice cream, or just plain old ice? Yes, we deliver those.

Goaltenders, no. But chicken tenders, yes. Because those are groceries, and we deliver those too. Along with your favorite restaurant food, alcohol, and other everyday essentials. Order Uber Eats now. For alcohol, you must be legal drinking age. Please enjoy responsibly. Product availability varies by region.

See app for details. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. That is normally the music for the intro to Fighter versus Rider, but today it's only just the writer, although I am talking to a fighter, which is why you're listening to this right now. I had a chance today for the first time since his first title defense over Kamaro Usman at UFC 286. I had a chance to catch up with the UFC welterweight champion of the world, Leon, Rocky Edwards today.

First time I've had a chance to catch up with Leon since I think before his first win over Kamaro Usman. I had him on the show, I had him on my show and talked to him at that point. He was doing some rounds, doing some media, and he was kind enough to give me some time today. We chatted about, obviously, the Uspin fight coming off that win. We talked about Jorge Mazvedal. We also talked about the timeline for his return, which I think will be maybe a little surprising to some folks. So we talked about that. We also talked about who actually comes next and this kind of specter of Colby Covington

that's kind of floating around in the air of him being next in line versus who Leon Edwards believes should be next or should earn it to be next. So without further ado, let's talk to the UFC well-to-weight champion of the world, Leon Edwards. Well, let me just start by saying congrats on, I know it's a little bit after the fight, but congrats, of course, on another amazing win man. What has the whirlwind been like these last few weeks after, you know, fighting at home in London, getting to beat Usman a second time? I mean, it had to feel great.

Yeah, it's been amazing, you know. The fans in the UK are excited. been crazy, crazy, busy. But apart from that, just been spending time of my family, having a little bit of downtime. You know, it's been a, like I said, the last 12 weeks before the fight was crazy and five weeks was crazy, you know,

so I was able to have a little time off, trule with my family, relax, get my head back into the right space, and now here we are. Yeah, absolutely. Is it nice, you know, it's funny, we go back a long ways, and it seemed like even,

like during your run, your undefeated run, we kept talking about Usman because he was the last guy to hold the win over you, and he was the champ. So every single time we talk, is it nice after meeting him twice so you can kind of put him out of your mind now?

Yeah, for sure, 100%. Like I said, it was a long time coming, you know. Like I said, he was the last person to beat me eight years ago. So that was always the fact that was going to happen, you know. So to be able to now add a trilogy of him in my hometown, defeated him twice. It's good to now move forward, look forward to see what's next and having someone new to talk about, you know. Yeah, you also, I mean, a lot of ways you also established yourself in such a big way in that's in that third fight because obviously everyone's saying, oh, you got lucky with the head kick, which is crap, but you know, people want to say what they want to say.

But then you go out there and beat him, you know, there's no question this time. You know, there was no question this time. You dominated the biggest part of the fight. You shut him down in so many ways. You shut down his wrestling. Like this was the kind of statement I imagine you want to make. Yeah, 100%. Like I said, the knockout was nice.

It was good, you know, but like I said, there was still doubt. after the knock out, you know, so I feel like the way I won in London, I think that put the ice and on the cake, like, look, it's now his time, you know, and so yeah, he was a great competitor to have Usman

to have a trilogy with, but now I'm looking forward to the future for sure. Yeah, this is your career, but I do have to ask you, I'll be honest, like, I thought if he lost to you again, I was like, this one will probably retire. Like, you know, he's proved a lot, he's been a champion. Were you surprised? Like he said, he's coming back,

he's already back in training. Like, good for him. I'm not doubting him, but I was actually a little surprised. Not really, because he's a dog, you know, like I truly believe

that he still beats everyone within the top five, top 10 apart from me. You know, he's a great competitor. Everyone's trying to say, now he's lost a step because I beat him.

But when he was knocking Kobe out, when he was knocking at, my shoulder, he didn't lose a step, you know, but now suddenly, after I'll be him twice, he lost a step,

you know, so like I said, it is what it is what people, what people say, but yeah, it's good to have him in the game. He's a great fighter. I just do a better man, and that's it. Yeah. I know that this sport is always going to be filled with haters.

That's just part of being at the top of the game. But do you feel like you have finally, you know, prove some people wrong, but, you know, not only going out there, beating him, beating him twice, and establishing yourself as the best well-to-weight-weight-weight-in-the-world. Like, there's no question anymore. There's no, there's no, like, well, Leon's done this, he's done that. No, you are the absolute best well-to-to-wait in the world. world. No one can question that now.

Yeah, 100%. 100%. There's no questions, right? The man that's old and told. The man that's got the longest win streak in the division. The man, that's for everybody to beat them. I feel there's no questions around it, right? So I'll prove my case time and time again. I've said it time and time again. I am the best in the world.

And I'm just going into my prime now at 31 years old. So I'm looking forward to see what the future brings in my, my, my, my, my, my right into the term pin, you know. Absolutely, absolutely. So now, of course, coming out of the fight, you know, listen, we're all guilty of this, Leon, what's next? What's next? You rarely get a chance to celebrate your win before people are like, who are you fighting?

But obviously, you've had a couple weeks now. And, you know, what's funny is after the fight, like, we'll get into the Colby stuff in a second, but after the fight, I think everyone immediately shifted gears to look to what happened to UFC 287, which was Mazvedal, because that was a big rivalry. We know the history there, and I know that's a fight you've always won it back. can I ask what you thought of Mazvedal's final performance? I know you tweeted about it, but obviously he lost and then he retired. I'm like, of all the fights, like there's a lot of fights we've missed out on in the history of the UFC.

Of all the fights, like that's one of the biggest fumbles of all time, I think, that you didn't get to fight him, like either after the Ascran fight. Like to do this day, Leon, even though it wouldn't have been for a title, it's like, that's still one of the biggest fumbles of all time that they didn't make you fight Masvidol at some point. Yeah, 100%. 100%. That was a fight to make, even after the Ascruan fight, like he said, you know,

that was a fight to make spread away. But for some reason, they didn't want to make it, you know. And I think on Saturday night, I think he showed his age, you know,

he's like 37, 38. He looked slowly in there. You got fatigue within a round or so. I don't think none of them look great immorgue, but, you know,

but also he was just the better man that night. But, yeah, I think he's probably good for him to retire. you know even though there's a fight that I would like but I just can't see him working his way back up to title contention yeah seeing how he performed is there any party that's kind of like I'm glad I didn't fight him now because it wouldn't have been the same guy nah now well I still want to put a beating on him you know where it looks like that or where it looks like that we want to knock on

asker in either way I was wanting to put it put a whipin on him and that was it you know they weren't I think whoever is the best George or not, technically just not as good as me and not better than me, you know. So, yeah, that's just I was wanting to put a beating on him and but suddenly I won't get the chance in October

going to know. Yeah, it's funny because we go back a couple of years and, you know, like you would have been, we again, not to rehash history but like you had that chance to fight Tyron Woodley. We know the pandemic kit, you missed out on fighting at home, all those kind of things. Is this one, like again, you're moving on, you're the champ now, you know, the guy, but is there any party, like, man, of all the fights I missed out on, the Masmedal's the

one I wish I had? Yeah, 100%. That's the one that got away, right? That's the one that I wish I had. The fans wish, which happened. Like, everyone wished that fight happened, you know, but for some reason, the U.S. He didn't want to make it, you know, and we would try making it on Massadol, turn it down, and we pulled out injured and stuff.

So, yeah, there's a father. Therefore, got away for sure. Yeah, absolutely. So now, of course, Leon, we know everyone's. talking about, you know, as I said, what is next for you? We've heard rumors about London in July, excuse me. There's a second pay-per-view, I think, heading over there. I just seen, I know you did another interview today, so I'll bring it up,

it said timing-wise. So before I even get to opponents, can you give me a sense of the timeline for your returns? I think I saw you said that July would actually be too soon for you, so maybe October. Can you kind of give me a sense of like where you're thinking in your timeline of your next flight? Yeah. Yeah, July is 100% too soon, you know?

I fought in March, just like under a month ago, I thought, you know, I'm still dealing with injuries and stuff that I need to deal with before I even consider getting back into a training camp, you know. So if I'm fighting in July, I'm going to go back a training camp next week and just not possible, you know, so I'll look towards towards the back end of the year around. I love to do Abu Dhabi, you know, in October. I think that would be a great, a great timeframe for me to compete, you know.

But there's no, there's actually. no clear number one contender right there's no one that's out there that's actually earned it there's guys that's coming off two losses one wins guys that's one win one loss and so it's a difficult time in the waterway division so now it's gonna look towards a business so i'll sit back i'll talk to the geocsie talk to my team and see what's best you know yeah i know that deep down like i know headlining in london was such a special moment for you and to go out there and defend your title i mean again that's you know those are kind of like lifetime moments you'll never forget but like because everyone assumes you know if they go to london in july you would headline but i imagine at

some point you have to you have to do what's right for you in your career and your body and because if you rush back right now like yeah it'd be great to headline another car in july but would you be doing a disservice to yourself by fighting again basically two months from now yeah exactly exactly and that's that's just it you know like i did it i did it in march for the for the fans of headlined it one of the biggest um gay at the o2 um in history and um It was a great event, you know, but I feel like now it's time for me to think about myself and think about the best way for me to, as a champion, I've earned it.

You know, it's been, what, 12 fights in a row. A long, long, long road to get air. And like I said, the opponent doesn't, there's no fair in none of these guys in top five, you know. So it's not about the opponent. For me, it's more just about the time frame and making sure that everything is right for me to compete. You know, I'm not going in a camp,

rushing back from dealing with injuries from the previous fight and from the previous camp just to for what you know even though London's already a fight night already sort of schedule for a fight night so I don't know why there's a force to make into a pay-per-view you know yeah well also you got to remember like you fought in august you fought in march both were five round fights uh you know so I mean that's a lot of wear and tear in your body and typically you know typically champions fight twice a year and and you know six months is typically the time frame you fought in March you fought in March. I mean, that's September to me would be like the earliest, right? Like that would seem like maybe the earliest time frame. Yeah, exactly, exactly. And that's my, that's what I'm looking towards is September, October, you know, that's what I'm looking towards. I think July is will be way too soon for me and for my body and for just getting back

to the training, you know, so yeah, for sure. I look towards that part of the year. Yeah. Leon, you are a very smart guy. You know the sport. And I like to think I know the sport. little bit too but can you explain to me because i would love to hear this can you explain to me why uh colby covington is the number one contender supposedly can you explain it to me i don't know

i don't know i don't know it's weird you know i don't know why it's getting pushed so much you know this is the guy that's coming off two losses to the guy i just curran the beat then one when they when they went to beat the guy um myself just just retired um then now sat out for like over a year, turn down Gilbert, turn down Hamzat, turn down Belau, and then come back

towards a target shot. It's just weird. It's like something that I've never seen before or no. And when I was going through the pandemic, having fight cancellations and Hamzab, pulled out twice,

I pulled out once, my father pulled out, all these fights falling through. I got removed at the rankings for that, even though it wasn't in my control and it wasn't my fault, I got removed at the rankings,

but for a guy to be healthy, fit and healthy, sat on the side lines, turning down three, four fights, and then demand, well, not demand, but say he wants to fight for the title, it doesn't make sense, you know? Like, I feel like they should do, like, well, I did it, just shut up and fight, you know?

I, I, I, at my position, I work for it, you know, but for some, these guys want handouts and freebies and that's not where it works, you know? Yeah, well, it's so weird too, because I know I talk, to Bilal Muhammad. I know you have history with him. Bilal's like, you know, fine, don't give me the title shot. Give me Colby. Like, let me fight Colby.

And, you know, Gilbert Burns just came off a win, like him and Colby. I think either, like, especially if you're waiting until, like, October to come back, either one of those fights could happen and then the winner could get you. Does that, doesn't that make the most sense? Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. That makes perfect sense. You know, like, still sitting around complaining, fight each other. Like, you know, like, I don't understand why why you wouldn't, you know? Like, you should believe you're a number one contender.

You should be, you should want to fight these guys, just prove to everybody, look, there's no one in my way, you know, it's me next. And for some reason, these guys want to sit out, complain, moan about the title shot, without fighting, you know. I had to do 10 in a row to get my title shot. These guys are coming off one win, one loss, one win, two wins, one loss, and then demanding title shots.

So, yeah, for sure. I feel like they should fight each other, either Colby versus Burns or Bilau versus Corby or wife, I ever do want to do it, and either wins, that's me next, you know. Yeah, it's probably better for your mental health and everyone's mental health. If you don't listen to a lot of what Colby Covington says because Colby Covington says a lot. He says a lot. But obviously, he likes to spout off, and he says things like, you know, they're going to strip you if you don't fight him and stuff like that. Like when you read stuff like that or I'm sure someone sends it to you either with like a laughing emoji or whatever,

but when you see stuff like that, like, do you chuckle because, listen, I know, listen, and you probably heard this too. I mean, you got removed from the rankings. I know the UFC has threatened the strip guys for not fighting. I know that's real, but when you see him say, do you laugh a little bit? Because, I mean, can I imagine, like, you haven't even, I imagine you probably haven't even received like an official fight offer at this point. Nah, no, no, no fire offer. Like, the UFC haven't sported to us, so there's no talks of that fight happening. And I was like, he just, just to talk.

But before I was getting stripped, like I said, this is a guy that set out for over a year, turned down and fights after fights. So he's just a talk, you know. I'm going to always take every fight. Like, I took a hamzat when nobody wants to fight at. You know, I took him three times and everyone was turning him down. So it's what it is. I'm coming off a fight against one of the top water weights in the world,

Kamara Usman, just under a month ago, you know. It hasn't been a month yet since I've been a month yet since I've been. So there's no stripping here. Like I said, I am willing to fight whoever, whenever, along the deserve it, and the time frame is right, you know. Yeah. Well, I know it's also got to me, listen, now you're a champion now,

and, you know, in a way you become the hunted instead of the hunter in a certain way, because you're the champ. You're going to be the guy who's gunning for. But you had to go through so freaking much, Leon, just to get your title shot. Like, we talked so many times about, you deserve it. You should be. This should be you.

You know, and is it, I imagine, like, it's got to be a little, and I'll give credit to Chris, who Bilal Muhammad's probably the one guy, because he's on, like, a nine fight, you know, whatever, is on beating streak, and he's actually been out there beating guys. But outside of him, like, it's a little frustrating when you see all these other guys, you know,

on one fight, two fight, and you're like, hold on now, I had to wait a really long time and worked my ass off to get here. Yeah, yeah, exactly. You know, when I was coming up and trying to get these fights, there's like, who's Leon Edwards and who's this and who's this and who's that, and I look at them, all begging me and running me down.

and, you know, so, like you said, let them go out of their way. There will be no give-outs. There will be no freebies there. Go earn your way and the target shot is yours, you know. Like, they're all similar opponents. There's no fair in none of them, you know, so I'm ready for you ever long as it makes sense, you know. Yeah. Is there any small party, I know you have history with him, but is there any small party that maybe fills a little bit for Bilal

considering what he's, you know, continue to do and prove it. the one guy like he fought sean brady he didn't really have a reason to fight Sean brady it wasn't a guy that was going to get him really fly up in the rankings but he fought him and then as soon as like it seems like he it seems like hey maybe he's the guy and then they're like no no Colby's going to get this I was like come on now like this this guy like if there's one guy who has a legitimate case to maybe feel a little bit like passed over it would probably be below um yeah probably probably you know um if if you had to pick somebody probably will be belal because he's like seven fights in a row eight fights in a row um

at least he's trying to do the work, you know, more than sitting on the sideline, um, turning down fights and not fighting nobody. At least he's trying to do the work, you know, but, um, like I said, I don't feel like that Bill hours on my level either way. We're really going to target shot or not. I feel like I'm, I'm levels above him, you know, for us, um, competing. But, um, yeah, let him go out there, fight. Get one more in, um, then we can fight, you know.

Yeah. Well, I think that's the whole point with the Colby thing. Like, Kobe's already been out for over year. if you're not going to fight to, let's just say September, October, whatever. Maybe November, they always do that big Madison Square Garden card in November. That would be big, too. But at that point, like, Colby would have been out for, like, 19 months or something crazy like that. Like, that would just seem wild to me that he would just sit and wait for a title shop for that long win, you know.

And listen, I know Belawas said, like, he turned me down. You know, I know Gilbert's gun for that fight. You know, I know Shavcats out there. Like, there's a lot of matchups they can make. And if Colby wins, you know, more power to him against the title shop. But it just seems weird that he would sit out for like 90s. months just waiting. Yeah, exactly, exactly.

Especially if you didn't earn it. You know, like, you're coming off two losses, one win. Like, you clearly didn't earn it. You've turned down, fights, stuff to fight. If he was injured, I could understand it. This is a man that's not injured. You know, he's in shape. He's fit.

He can fight, you know, for some reason. He wants to sit out, sit on the sideline on his one win against George and demand tower shots, you know, more than fighting these guys. that he thinks is better, and the give up burns, the belows of the world, you know,

like, which you should do. But I don't understand why. I don't get it. I truly don't. And, um, but we'll see.

I joked. I joked after, after that whole thing happened. I said, Colby popped out of witness protection from the whole Maswood all thing. Suddenly he's the number one contender. I was like,

what's going on here. Exactly. That's basically what it was. You know, like it literally went, it wasn't even on Twitter or nothing. Just literally went off the radar. that makes the perfect sense with his protection.

And then, you just came out and just started talking shit that I want a title shot. You know, it just doesn't make no logical sense at all. And, but like I said, we'll see. These guys should need to fight. Start complaining, fight each other. And the truly is the number one contender. Then beat the guy that saying he's no more contender. And then you hit you there, you know.

There's no doubt. Absolutely. And like you said, you're basically less than a month removed from the fight. Can I ask you know at this point? on like are you have you taken a vacation have you at least got a time to get a little break to get some family time because again as i said we're always we're always so focused on what's next we kind of forget like hey man you just went through like basically a year more or less of like fighting usman going through training camps for usman all this kind of crazy it's like are

you actually going to be able to get a little downtime i'm trying to but i'm trying to get one in may you know don't know my plan is go go um get holiday may because i've been businesses to fight with media and doing different stuff. So I'm trying to book summer in May to take my kid away and just relax. And I'll just look back on the last year what I went through and what I've done, you know, and just relax and get my body back in the right shape

and my mind and the right shape of mind and just go out there and compete, you know. Yeah, you've earned it, man. Like I said, I even after the fight, like I was telling your manager, because I do text your room time to time. I was like, I don't want to bother Leon right now. Like, let the guy have a day off,

but here I'm bugging you now. But, you know, like I said, I want to give you a little bit of time off. No, it's all good. It's all good. Yeah. Well, Leon, in all sincerity, man, take some time off. You've earned it. I mean, I can only imagine this last year, you know, again, whirlwind of getting the title,

fighting and, you know, fighting in Salt Lake City, and then turn it right back around and doing it again, you know, basically five months later, whatever it is. Crazy whirlwind. And I'm sure you need a break and get a vacation. Get a vacation to, man. Enjoy some time. Bulk up to middleweight for a couple months. enjoy some time off and eat some food

because you've earned it, man. Thank you, mate. Appreciate it, man. Well, Leon, I always appreciate the time. You've always been so kind to me. I do appreciate that. I appreciate you always doing this with me. Again, congratulations on the last win.

Enjoyed the time off. Enjoy some family time, and I'm sure we'll chat again later this year once someone has officially determined themselves as the number one contender in your division. Exactly, exactly. Good man. Thank you for having me again.

Absolutely. We'll talk soon. All right. Bye-bye. Bye-bye. Okay, only 10 more presents to wrap. You're almost at the finish line. But first?

There, the last one. Enjoy a Coca-Cola for a pause that refreshes.