Losing a championship changes everything for a fighter overnight. The pressure disappears but so does the prestige and paychecks. Former champions face a brutal climb back to relevance. One loss can be explained away as a fluke. Two consecutive defeats start raising serious questions about decline. And Leon Edwards knows this reality all too well right now.
The British fighter held the welterweight title after his stunning knockout of Kamaru Usman. He defended the belt successfully against Usman in their trilogy fight and then Colby Covington. But then Belal Muhammad took the title from him decisively. Sean Brady then beat Edwards in his next outing. Now Edwards stands at a crossroads in his career. He faces Carlos Prates at UFC 322 this weekend in what is a must-win situation.
Most fighters in Edwards’ position would play it safe. Prates is a dangerous striker with knockout power in both hands. The smart money says take him down early and often. Grind out a boring decision victory and live to fight another day. Edwards could easily lay on Prates for three rounds and secure a win. Ian Garry used this approach to neutralize Prates’ striking and win a decision.
But the former champion isn’t interested in that approach whatsoever. He addressed this exact topic during UFC 322 media day. Edwards made it clear that wrestling Prates wouldn’t accomplish his bigger goals. Simply controlling a striker on the ground for fifteen minutes won’t fast-track him back to a title shot.
“I could do that but I don’t think going in there and lying on him will get me back where I want to be faster”
Edwards explained his reasoning behind this decision pretty thoughtfully. He’s actually excited to face a pure striker for the first time in years. Most of his recent opponents have been wrestlers or grapplers. Fighting someone like Prates allows for a more open and free-flowing striking battle. Edwards wants to showcase his complete skill set against this type of opponent.
Edwards has mapped out his entire path back to championship contention already. This fight represents step one in that journey. A dominant performance against Prates would put him back in the conversation immediately. Then he envisions facing Ian Garry in his next bout after this. Finally, a title shot would come in the summer of 2026 if everything goes according to plan.
This timeline only works if Edwards looks impressive though. A safe wrestling-based victory doesn’t generate the buzz he needs. The UFC and fans want to see exciting performances from former champions. Lay-and-pray tactics might secure wins but they don’t create title shot momentum.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for Edwards at this stage of his career. Two straight losses have people questioning if he’s still elite level. A third consecutive defeat would be absolutely devastating for his future prospects. But Edwards clearly believes in himself still. He’s choosing the riskier path because he knows a spectacular finish does more for him than a safe decision. This weekend will reveal whether his confidence is justified or misplaced!
(Image Credit: Per Haljestam – Imagn Images)
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