Leon Edwards removed from UFC welterweight rankings
Leon Edwards is no longer ranked in the top 15 of the UFC’s welterweight division.
Confirmed by Cole Shelton, Edwards said his name was removed from the list due to inactivity. The 29-year-old last performance was a unanimous-decision victory against former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos at ESPN 4 on July 20, 2019.
Edwards is currently struggling to find an opponent. The Englishman wants a title shot or someone who is ranked ahead of him in the rankings. Only former title challenger Colby Covington and Gilbert Burns were ranked ahead of Edwards going into Thursday, Oct. 22.
The 29-year-old favorited a matchup with rival Jorge Masvidal. The feud stems from a backstage altercation at UFC on ESPN+5 in March 2019. Masvidal was in the middle of a post-fight interview when he walked over to confront Edwards. It led to punches being thrown.
OMG pic.twitter.com/yVDoMG0czq
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) March 16, 2019
Former title challenger Stephen Thompson called out Edwards in September, but Edwards stated he is not interested in a fight with “Wonder boy.”
Edwards addressed the matter via Twitter today, calling out the surging Khazmat Chimaev.
I'm still in the rankings. Fuck all the inactivity, the only reason I havent fought is because all these so called top guys turned me down.
Khamzat want to fight then?
— Leon 'Rocky' Edwards (@Leon_edwardsmma) October 22, 2020
Edwards last defeat was a unanimous-decision loss to now-champion Kamaru Usman at UFC on FOX 17 in December 2015. For the last five years, Edwards has built up quite the resume, including wins over Donald Cerrone, Vincente Luque and Gunnar Nelson. Luque and dos Anjos are both currently ranked in the top 15.
With Edwards out of the top 15, Belal Muhammad moves into the No. 15 spot.