Leon Edwards Aims to Recapture UFC Title by End of 2025

Leon Edwards, who previously defended his UFC title twice before his recent loss to Belal Muhammad, has expressed his ambition to regain the UFC championship “by the end of next year” as he plans his return to competition. The fighter from Birmingham relinquished the UFC welterweight title to Belal Muhammad in July, marking his initial defeat since 2015. Edwards, aged 33, has not yet scheduled his next fight, but anticipates receiving another opportunity to compete for a championship. On Instagram, Edwards stated, “My goal right now is to get the belt back.” He further elaborated, “For me, it’s more about what’s next and how do you get back to where you want to get to. My goal is to be a two-time world champion.” Historically, no British fighter has secured a UFC title on two separate occasions. Michael Bisping and Tom Aspinall are the only other two Britons who have claimed a UFC title or an interim belt. Despite being considered the favourite against Muhammad, Edwards delivered an uninspired performance before his local supporters in Manchester. UFC 304, structured as an overnight event in the UK to cater to a US audience, saw Edwards enter the octagon for his bout approximately at 05:30 local time. Prior to this recent loss, Edwards’ last defeat occurred more than eight years ago against Kamaru Usman, after which he embarked on a 13-fight unbeaten streak. The identity of Edwards’ next opponent upon his return remains unconfirmed, though former rival Jorge Masvidal has been suggested as a potential contender for the UFC fight night scheduled in London on 22 March. Edwards commented, “I haven’t lost a fight in like nine years.” He added, “It’s getting used to that feeling again, but I feel like I hate losing more than I love winning.” He concluded, “There’s not much you can do now, you know, just move on from that and put it behind you.”