Leon Edwards gets trolled by Nate Diaz and receives fight challenge from Islam Makhachev after settling Kamaru Usman rivalry at UFC 286
Leon Edwards was the name on everyone's lips after UFC 286.
‘Rocky’ upset the odds for a second successive fight as he outpointed Kamaru Usman over five rounds to win a majority decision at the O2 Arena on Saturday night.
The British UFC champion defended his welterweight title for the first time since knocking out ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ in Salt Lake City last August.
Colby Covington sat cageside at UFC 286 before being named as next in line for a shot at the 170lb strap by Dana White who was impressed with his willingness to be the back-up fighter for his latest event.
The UFC president said during his post-fight press conference: “I don’t know when we’ll do it, but that’s the fight that makes sense.
“Colby came here and cut weight and did everything to be here for this fight. He deserves the fight, not to mention he’s the second or third best guy in the world.”
Edwards expressed his desire to fight the winner of Gilbert Burns vs Jorge Masvidal next and was unhappy to hear Covington being touted as a potential opponent.
Away from the iconic London arena, Nate Diaz was an interested observer and couldn’t resist taking a cheeky jab at Edwards following his 11th consecutive UFC win.
“Still,” he wrote alongside a crown emoji and footage of him badly rocking the best welterweight in MMA during their five-round fight at UFC 263 in June 2021.
Edwards survived the late onslaught from Diaz to win by unanimous decision after dominating the vast majority of their fight - but the current free agent claimed, in his eyes, a moral victory.
Elsewhere on social media, Islam Makhachev suggested he will soon move up in weight and attempt to become a dual-division champion by beating the star of UFC 286.
The UFC lightweight titleholder is expected to fight in Abu Dhabi this October against a yet-to-be-named opponent and is hoping Edwards will be the man he’ll face later this year.
Makhachev tweeted: “I want Leon next, October in Abu Dhabi.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protégé is coming off a controversial decision win over Alexander Volkanovski who stepped up from featherweight and gave him all he could handle over five rounds at UFC 284 last month.
‘The Great’ wants a rematch but is being linked to a 145lb unification fight with Yair Rodriguez following his interim title win against Josh Emmett on the same card.