Leon Edwards aiming to become Britain’s first two-weight UFC champion after Belal Muhammad fight
UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards is eyeing up his own piece of history.
'Rocky' became the second Brit to win UFC gold (behind Michael Bisping) when he scored a last-gasp head kick knockout win over Kamaru Usman in August 2022.
And he is now set to make the third defence of his belt in a rematch against Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in Manchester on July 27.
The pair squared off in 2021 but their fight ended in a no-contest after Muhammad was unable to continue following an accidental eye poke.
Since then, both men have strung together solid winning streaks and now find themselves matched up again.
Providing he comes through his upcoming clash unscathed, Edwards will have no shortage of options for his next fight.
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Shavkat Rakhmonov, Jack Della Maddalena and Ian Machado Garry are all queueing up for their shot at 170lbs gold as is lightweight king Islam Makhachev.
"Makhachev has just fought the first proper lightweight (Dustin Poirier).
"He fought Volk but this is the first actual lightweight he has fought. He's on a three-fight defence streak and after I beat Belal that will be my third as well so we are both on similar paths so I can see that happening in the future.
"Also I want to move up and challenge for a middleweight belt as well so whatever comes first.
"I feel like I've got the size [for the middleweight division] and the skill for it so why not chase greatness."
Dricus du Plessis is currently in possession of the 185lbs strap and is set to defend it against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 on August 17.
There isn't a clear number one contender in the division once Du Plessis and Adesanya have settled their score so Edwards could easily move up and get an immediate title shot.