Leon Edwards aims to reclaim UFC welterweight title next year

Leon Edwards is eager to get his UFC welterweight championship back.

After two title defenses, Edwards (22-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) lost his belt to Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision at UFC 304 in July. Edwards has remained outside of the limelight since then but recently broke his silence.

“My goal right now is to obviously get the belt back,” Edwards said in a social media video posted by Myprotein. “I’d love to be champion again by the end of the year, next year, around this time next year. So, just putting steps in place. I (hadn’t) lost a fight now in, like, nine years. So, I was getting used to that feeling again.

“I feel I hate losing more than I love winning. You know there’s not much you can do now. You know, just move on from that. You put it behind you and 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.”

The loss to Muhammad snapped Edwards’ 13-fight unbeaten streak and marked his first loss in more than nine years. Edwards first claimed the 170-pound title with a come-from-behind knockout of Kamaru Usman at UFC 278.

He retained his title in their trilogy bout by majority decision at UFC 286, then successfully notched another title defense against Colby Covington last December at UFC 296, before losing it to Muhammad.