Leon Edwards, like many, believes Jon Jones is the best MMA fighter to ever stroll this earth.
Nonetheless, others could also be shocked to study that the worst fighter of all time, in his opinion, is a present UFC champion – Belal Muhammad.
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Edwards appeared as a visitor on The Louis Theroux Podcast the place he was requested in regards to the best UFC fighters of all time.
A former UFC champion in his personal proper, Edwards is greater than geared up to offer an skilled view on the matter, however some might really feel there was a touch of bias when discussing the other finish of the size.
“For me, I’d say Jon Jones,” Edwards informed Theroux on who one of the best ever is. “My second greatest is Anderson Silva.”
Jones is the UFC’s present heavyweight champion and Silva is famend as one of many best MMA fighters of all time.
Silva retired from the UFC in 2020 having received simply certainly one of his closing 9 bouts within the promotion, and was inducted into the UFC Corridor of Fame as a Pioneer within the 2023 class.
“[Worst?] Belal [Muhammad]… I might like to run it again,” Edwards added.
“Regular time. I might like to run it again once more subsequent 12 months (episode recorded in 2024).”
Edwards turned a champion for the primary time within the UFC when he knocked out Kamaru Usman with a wild viral head kick of their important occasion conflict at UFC 278 in August 2022.
The Birmingham man was an enormous underdog going into the bout, however proved all you want in MMA is one shot to attain greatness.
Edwards then efficiently defended his belt in opposition to the outspoken Colby Covington, who stooped so low by way of trash speak within the build-up to their bout that he made jokes about Edwards’ useless father.
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After comfortably profitable that in what will need to have marked a bitter candy second for the 31-year-old, Edwards then defended his belt in opposition to Belal Muhammad.
Nonetheless, virtually two years into his UFC welterweight title reign Edwards dropped his belt to Muhammad after combating the American within the early hours of the Manchester solar.
Many MMA followers, together with British UFC stars like Tom Aspinall and Paddy Pimblett have since spoken out in regards to the struggle, saying Dana White’s desire to have it at a time that higher swimsuit his bigger American viewers would undoubtedly have had an impact on the champion.
Edwards has now damaged his silence on the matter and revealed insights into conversations he had with a ‘sleep specialist’ forward of his defeat to Muhammad.
“Not bodily drained, mentally,” Edwards stated when questioned about his weaknesses because of the time he fought Muhammad at.
“You already know whenever you get up at 5 within the morning to rise up and run or practice, you do not really feel your greatest and that is how I felt.
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Edwards was largely dominated through the five-round bout with Muhammad, who took the Brit down 9 occasions in whole and appeared far sharper.
“I felt it,” Edwards stated. “I can not clarify it to today what it was. Even main as much as it I spoke to a sleep specialist to ask what the easiest way was to regulate my physique.
“Usually, all through my 32/33 years, I have been going to mattress at 11 o’clock like a traditional sleep schedule, however this time I needed to utterly change my physique to acting at excessive depth at two or three within the morning, and sleeping through the day.
“I spoke to him and he stated if you aren’t getting a superb nights sleep, it slows your response time down rather a lot and I felt it.”
Edwards is about for his MMA return since dropping the title because the UFC returns to London for the primary time since 2023 on March 22.
He headlines a stacked Struggle Night time card in opposition to Australian Jack Della Maddalena, who’s unbeaten in his final 17 fights, profitable 14 by stoppage.
Nonetheless, the Aussie star has not fought since March 9 final 12 months when he knocked out Gilbert Burns at UFC 209 however suffered a damaged forearm within the course of.