Leon Edwards says he needs to KO Tyron Woodley at UFC London in order to earn title shot

Leon Edwards knows a win over Tyron Woodley at UFC London is the way to force the title shot he so richly deserves.

It's likely he would face either current welterweight champion Kamaru Usman or Jorge Masvidal and Edwards doesn't care who it is.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Edwards said he 'needs' to stop Woodley - the former welterweight king - so the UFC are unable to deny him any longer.

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"I want to stop him,"; the Birmingham fighter said.

"I want to go out there and stop him and prove my case why I deserve the title shot next - even though I deserved it ages ago! But this is just to know that I am next and there is no one else better than me.

"I have to go out there and stop him and he is stoppable. I will get it done."

The card for the March event is so often the UK versus the world and it's lining up that way again.

So what fight excites Edwards on paper?

"My teammate just got signed, Jai Herbert. He's taking on Marc Diakiese and I'm really looking forward to him performing and getting the opportunity to fight," he said.

"He's been campaigning for a while to get into the UFC and he was a world champion in Cage Warriors, so I'm looking forward to seeing my teammate in action. It's his first one, he has a baby on the way and I'm really looking forward to him going out there and performing and doing great for his family and friends."

Leon isn't the only Edwards excelling in mixed martial arts. He's on an eight-fight win streak, but his brother, Fabian, is 9-0 and one of the top middleweights in Bellator right now.

So when will we see both Edwards in UFC?

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"I've been trying to get him for a while but I think he's enjoying his time in Bellator.

"He wants to be a world champion in Bellator first. From speaking to him, he wants to achieve that goal first - he's so close, probably this year he'll fight for a world title - so, let him achieve that goal first and then come to the UFC."

When that does happen, will you headline a London card?

"Nah, a Birmingham card together! How good would that be? It'll happen, it'll happen. He's 26, he's got time on his hands. It'll happen in the future for sure."

There's no doubt Woodley is one of the all-time great welterweight champions in the sport, but following a humbling defeat to Usman, has Woodley seen his best days?

Edwards will be preparing for the best Woodley regardless.

Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: WOODLEY vs EDWARDS on Saturday 21st March at The O₂ are available from 10:00 AM GMT on Friday 31^st January via  and .