Leon Edwards’ coach needs a date with Ian Machado Garry.
This previous Saturday, Edwards misplaced his welterweight title, dropping a unanimous determination to Belal Muhammad in the principle occasion of UFC 304. Following the struggle, Edwards mentioned he wasn’t stunned and that his physique felt drained all week, and talking with Submission Radio lately, his coach Dave Lovell revealed that Edwards’ coaching camp was not all smiles.
“Lots of people don’t know this, and I’m not making any form of excuses for him, however we had a number of niggles in camp,” Lovell mentioned. “His again was niggling him, so he couldn’t wrestle the way in which he wanted to, offensively and defensively, due to the niggle that recurred possibly two or thrice. However not taking nothing away from Belal’s efficiency. He did nicely. The very best man received on the night time and Leon can be again.”
The loss was the primary for Edwards since 2015, snapping a 13-fight unbeaten streak for “Rocky” however now drops him from title rivalry, at the least within the quick future. UFC CEO Dana White mentioned after the occasion that the promotion is not going to run again a right away rematch between Muhammad and Edwards, which leaves Lovell and the remainder of Edwards’ group what comes subsequent.
“I can perceive Dana saying that,” Lovell mentioned. “He needs to see a bit extra pleasure. However as for the following opponent for Leon, Tim [Simpson, Edwards’s manager] mentioned he was going to throw a number of names on the market, possibly a Shavkat [Rakhmonov] or Ian Garry. We’ll see what we get again.
“Clearly Leon’s acquired to get himself again in rivalry to struggle for the title. Being a three-time defending champion, I feel if he will get one, possibly two wins with a number of up-and-coming weapons, or one which’s within the top-five, I feel Leon might get to struggle Belal possibly not 2025, however possibly 2026, god prepared.”
As for which opponent will get him there, Lovell is keen on Garry. “The Future” beforehand skilled at Edwards’ gymnasium, Crew Renegade, earlier than being kicked out of the gymnasium. Garry maintains he was booted as a result of jealousy, whereas Edwards says Garry was not a tradition match on the gymnasium. So given their historical past, Lovell want to see the 2 males settle up.
“I want to see Leon struggle Ian Garry,” Lovell mentioned. “Clearly we will maintain it British based mostly, both Eire or over right here. Clearly there’s the little background story we had going again final yr. He’s searching for a scalp, now that Leon’s not champ he might imagine it’s a good scalp for him to get to march on to get a championship belt or a title shot.
“For Leon, if Leon beats him, that then places him in the back of the queue. After which possibly if they need yet another earlier than he fights Belal — if Belal has nonetheless acquired the belt — that would be the future transfer, the longer term plan.”
After UFC 304, Edwards mentioned he want to return earlier than the top of the yr if attainable, which might line up with Garry’s timeline as “The Future” final competed at UFC 303 in June. And if this matchup does really come to go, Lovell believes his cost will put himself proper again into title discuss.
“Leon would, I consider, beat him with the straightforward reality of struggle expertise,” Lovell mentioned. “He’s a great lad, he’s acquired good abilities, however we all know as a result of we’ve seen some — when he was at our gymnasium, don’t simply suppose he got here to the gymnasium and it was a boogie experience for him. He was getting tapped out… He got here to Renegade, he was amongst us, he was getting tapped out whereas he was studying.
“Yeah, you already know, Ian Garry is a reputation that may put Leon again on monitor. I feel so anyway.”
