Leon Edwards clarifies stance on pursuing UFC middleweight title: 'It's not an immediate goal'

16/12/2023 18:00

Leon Edwards definitely wants the chance to become champ-champ in the UFC but he's not planning on making that move as soon as expected.

In the lead up to his fight against Colby Covington in the UFC 296 main event, the 32-year-old welterweight champion teased the possibility that he could pursue a second belt while keeping a close eye on the upcoming middleweight title fight between Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis in January. That statement rattled a lot of welterweight contenders hoping for their own chance at gold, especially after the UFC has booked so many champion versus champion fights in recent years.

While winning the 185-pound title is definitely something that Edwards wants to achieve, he clarified his timeline when speaking to MMA Fighting ahead of his second welterweight title defense on Saturday.

"It's not an immediate goal," Edwards revealed. "I've got goals in my life. One of them is being the best welterweight of all time. I want to beat [Georges St-Pierre's] record. I've got him down as the GOAT. I have to stick around welterweight to do that."

During his illustrious UFC career, St-Pierre compiled a record setting nine title defenses at welterweight before he eventually relinquished his title and took a long hiatus from the sport. No one has beaten that record yet — Kamaru Usman came closest with five total defenses — but Edwards would love to compile enough wins to topple St-Pierre's streak as champion.

In the meantime if an opportunity arises to claim the middleweight title, Edwards certainly won't turn it down but it's not his top priority right now.

"I would also like to move up and be great," Edwards said. "Why not go out there and chase double champ status and be written in the history books. Who doesn't want to do that?

"So that's definitely one of my goals down the line but I am focused on Colby, focused on the welterweights. Dominating the division. If an opportunity comes up, I'm willing to take it whenever."

As far as breaking St-Pierre's title defense streak, Edwards feels like that's definitely something he can accomplish after already staying undefeated for the past eight years.

Nothing will come easy but Edwards sounds confident that he can continue to build momentum towards that eventual goal and the next step happens at UFC 296.

""I feel like I'm in the prime of my career, prime of my life," Edwards said. "I'm 12 fights in a row now, I haven't lost in eight years, almost nine years. I'm going for a second title defense. I'm only 32 years old. So I feel like that's definitely doable.

"That's my goal. From now on to get to 10 [title defenses], get the middleweight strap and then I'm out."