Former two-time title challenger Stephen Thompson believes Leon Edwards should be next in line for a crack at UFC welterweight gold. However, he admits the fast-growing popularity of Khamzat Chimaev could factor into the title picture in the near future.
Third-ranked 170-pound talent Leon Edwards (19-3) unexpectedly found his dance card open once against last week. His scheduled bout at UFC 269 against Jorge Masvidal fell through, after “Gaembred” suffered an undisclosed injury, and left him in booking limbo. The 30-year-old is unbeaten in his last 10 and has been viewed as a top contender to champion Kamaru Usman (20-1) for more than a year. Even the champ himself recently said that a fight between the two is a must if he had beaten Masvidal.
The promotion could pivot to Usman vs Edwards next and it would be a rematch of the pair’s bout from six years ago, which oddly enough was “Rocky’s” last defeat in the Octagon.
Khamzat Chimaev vs Gilbert Burns could have a major effect on UFC welterweight title picture
However, unbeaten and tenth-ranked Chechen star Khamzat Chimaev has taken the promotion by storm in winning more fights (four) than he’s actually been hit inside the Octagon. “Borz” seems one big win away from serious title contention, and the UFC has always leaned in the direction of star power when it comes to big bookings.
Last week, Frontkick.online reported the news that a January bout between Chimaev and second-ranked Gilbert Burns (20-4) was seriously being looked at by the organization. That winner could certainly be in the conversation for a title opportunity, especially if it was Chimaev who came out victorious.
Thompson (16-5-1) was asked about the title picture during a Wednesday appearance on Submission Radio, and the 38-year-old believes Edwards should be the man tapped as Usman’s next challenger. However, even he could not deny the serious popularity and momentum behind Chimaev, as well as what a win over Burns could do for his championship aspirations.
Stephen Thompson says Leon Edwards should be next in line to face Kamaru Usman
“I think it should go to Leon Edwards. It should go Leon, but everybody’s on the Khamzat train,” said Thompson. “He’s very popular right now. He’s been smashing people and he’s kind of the talk of the [industry]. It’s crazy because he’s got such a big following from Russia. I think he even has more followers than the champ Kamaru Usman. He’s got a whole country behind him. So that is a good incentive and exciting for Dana White and the UFC to make that fight happen. If that Gilbert Burns fight comes through. But on paper, it should be Leon Edwards for sure.”
Thompson faced Burns in July and UFC 264 and came up short by unanimous decision in a competitive scrap. Meaning he knows the talent the Brazilian has. However, he feels “Durinho” became noticeably fatigued late in their fight and he thinks that could be a problem in a five-round battle with the 27-year-old.
“If they do end up fighting, and it’s a five-round fight, he could possibly tire out. We’ll see how it goes,” he said. … “That’s a great fight. If [Chimaev] goes up there and does work with the guys in the top five, then you have to jump on the [hype] train. Right now, he’s just been smashing guys. It’s almost like effortlessly. It feels almost like the guys he’s facing are already kind of beaten before they get out there.”
Who do you think should get a fight with “The Nigerian Nightmare” next, Edwards, or the winner of a possible Chimaev vs Burns fight?
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