Leon Edwards is set to fight Nate Diaz at UFC 263, in what will be the first-ever five-round non-title undercard fight. Edwards is currently ranked third in the welterweight division. His most recent UFC battle was against Belal Muhammed, which unfortunately ended in a no-contest after Edwards’s evidently eye poked his opponent.
Since Edwards is set to face off against one of the UFC’s biggest stars in Nate Diaz, he has the opportunity to put himself right back into the title picture. Diaz, despite coming off a loss to Jorge Masvidal, also has a chance to establish himself as a top contender if he defeats Edwards.
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Leon Edward makes his prediction for the Nate Diaz fight
Edwards recently went on social media to let his thoughts know before he goes toe to toe against Nathan Diaz. Leon Edwards has never shied away from letting his thoughts known before the fight.
Leon Edwards plans on making an emphatic statement against Nate Diaz at #UFC263 "I envision going out there and just battering him from pillar to post."@UFCarabia pic.twitter.com/I0p2k44oEy
— Farah Hannoun (@Farah_Hannoun) May 31, 2021
“I need to go out there and I need to put him away, he’s only been stopped once, and that’s all I need. He’s been stopped. He’s not no robot. He’s not no invincible man. He has been stopped, and I truly believe I will go out there and stop him again – and I cannot wait. My skill set will be too much for him in the standup. On the ground, my strength will be too much for him. And I can’t wait to go out there and let him feel that.” Edwards said to UFC Arabia.
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Edwards has been unlucky since last year, when his London main event against Tyron Woodley in March 2020 was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak and things went south when he himself contracted COVID. His last fight against Belal Muhammad also ended in DQ due to an unintentional eye poke. With all that built-up frustration, Edwards is ready to show why he deserves a shot at Nate Diaz. Diaz has only been finished with strikes once in 2013, and Edwards plans on handing him another stoppage loss.
“I envision going out there and just battering him from pillar to post and getting the stoppage, I know he’s a tough, durable guy, and I just don’t think being tough and durable is enough to beat me. I’ve worked hard, and I’ve dedicated myself for a long time, and it’s now time for my results to show. I can’t wait to go out there and prove that.” Edwards added.
The two athletes have a reputation for destroying their opponents inside the octagon. Having an unforgiving attitude towards their opponents, who do you think will win their fight at UFC 263?