Leon Edwards on a Mission to Prove His Greatness at UFC 322
British welterweight Leon Edwards arrives at Madison Square Garden this Saturday with a singular focus: redemption. After suffering back-to-back defeats in the octagon, the fighter known as 'Rocky' is determined to remind the world of the talent that once made him a UFC champion. His pivotal bout against the rising contender Carlos Prates at UFC 322 represents a critical juncture in his career.
In an exclusive conversation with the Daily Mail, Edwards revealed a renewed fire and sharpened focus in his training camp. 'I'm feeling good. I'm in good spirits,' Edwards stated. 'I'm looking forward to going out there and reminding the world who I am. An iconic venue like MSG is the perfect opportunity, the perfect venue to do that.'
The Fickle Nature of Fight Fortunes
It's a stark contrast to just a few years ago, when Edwards was the man of the moment following his stunning head-kick knockout of Kamaru Usman at UFC 278, a blow that ended the champion's dominance. However, the brutal landscape of MMA has shifted, and after consecutive losses to Belal Muhammad and Sean Brady, Edwards finds himself confronting what he describes as a form of fan amnesia.
'This game is fickle,' he said with a grin. 'It's always: 'What have you done for me lately?' You lose once or twice and people act like you're finished. Then you win and suddenly you're the best again.' He drew a parallel to the career of Alexander Volkanovski, who also experienced a similar cycle of loss and redemption. At 34, the Birmingham-born fighter is clear-headed about his recent setbacks, acknowledging the need for technical adjustments but refusing to dwell on the past.
'It is what it is,' Edwards admitted. 'You can't dwell on defeats too much. Technically, you break things down with your coaches, but the result? You accept it and move on. I'm in a good place now, good spirit and excited to go again and prove I'm the best in the world. I truly believe that.' This competitive edge, he insists, is stronger than ever, fuelled by a desire to silence his doubters.
A Dominant Display and Future Title Ambitions
Edwards has left no stone unturned in his preparation, meticulously studying Prates's fighting style. 'I've watched all of Carlos' fights, not just the Garry one,' he revealed. 'His shots, how he moves, what strikes he favours - I take advantage of everything I see.' He envisions a dominant performance on Saturday night, promising to showcase the full spectrum of his skills rather than adopting a cautious approach.
'It's going to be me mixing martial arts,' Edwards declared. 'I believe I'm the better striker and the better grappler. I'll put it all together and dominate the contest. It'll be entertaining, but it's going to be me dominating from start to finish.' The stakes in the welterweight division are exceptionally high, with a cluster of contenders vying for a title shot. Edwards sees the current climate as having a 'tournament feel' and knows a statement win could fast-track him back to the belt he lost in July of last year.
'Whoever performs the best over the next few weeks, we'll see where things lie. A title shot next would be perfect,' he said. 'If they want one more fight early next year, that's perfect too. My goal is to be world champion again by next summer.' Fighting at the legendary Madison Square Garden adds a special significance to this mission. 'It's one of those iconic places,' he reflected. 'When you're old and looking back at your career, you want to say you fought at MSG. Muhammad Ali fought there. It's sick. I'm excited.'
Leon Edwards takes on Carlos Prates on the undercard of UFC: 322 Della Maddalena vs Makhachev live on Saturday 15th November at Madison Square Garden, New York. The main card will be broadcast live on TNT Sport 1 from 3am GMT on Sunday 16th November.
