MMA
3 possible next opponents for Leon Edwards in the New Year
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Leon Edwards dictated the pace and thoroughly dominated Colby Covington to retain the welterweight world title at UFC 296 on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
With that victory, "Rocky" recorded his second defense of the welterweight crown and heads into the New Year with plenty of options.
Here, DAZN takes a look at three possible opponents for Edwards in 2024.
Belal Muhammad
Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad have been needing to run this one back since their March 2021 clash ended in an accidental eye poke just 18 seconds into the second round and left the latter unable to continue.
Since then, all Edwards and Muhammad have done is win.
Plus, after Kamaru Usman — who Edwards has defeated twice already — Muhammad is listed as the top welterweight contender to "Rocky's" title.
It's a must.
Shavkat Rakhmonov
Rakhmonov becoming the first man to submit Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson on Saturday night only ups his stock. The undefeated, rugged fighter from Uzbekistan has the kind of grit and skill to seemingly test Edwards in the Octagon, making the possibility of their matchup all the more enticing for the New Year.
His dominant victory over Thompson should give him a boost in the welterweight rankings — where he's currently No. 5 — making an even stronger case for this fight to be made soon.
Winner of Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis
Strickland is slated to defend his middleweight world title against Du Plessis in the headliner of UFC 297 on January 20.
And while Edwards' run as welterweight champion is still in its early stages, a win over Muhammad and/or Rakmonov could have Edwards daring to be great and challenging for the middleweight gold.
It's then that "Rocky" could leave indelible marks on his mixed martial arts legacy.
