LIVE UPDATES
The former two-time UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, has received a warning about the potential challenge from welterweight titleholder Leon Edwards as he prepares for his upcoming fight against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 in Perth.
After his remarkable head kick knockout of Kamaru Usman, the British fighter has defended his title twice and is now set to face Belal Muhammad on July 27 in Manchester.
Edwards has expressed his ambitious goals for his reign at 170-pounds, aiming to surpass Georges St-Pierre’s records. While he doesn't plan to leave welterweight permanently, he also looks forward to testing himself at middleweight in the future.
The middleweight division may look very different by the time Edwards decides to make the move, given the top names currently dominating the division.
Dave Lovell, Edwards’ head coach, recently shared his thoughts on the middleweight landscape and the possibility of Edwards moving up to challenge for a second title.
Speaking to Submission Radio, Lovell expressed his belief that Adesanya may be approaching the end of his career.
“I don’t think Israel (Adesanya) because, in all fairness, I love him and Israel is my brother, but I think he’s coming to the twilight of his career now,” Lovell said.
“If I were him, if he fights Dricus, maybe win the title, defend it once, or even just win that title and retire because he’s earned enough, he’s got nothing more to prove. I wouldn’t like to see Leon fight Israel because we’re all close that way; we’re all friends, so I wouldn’t like to see that.”
Although a potential matchup between Adesanya and Edwards seems unlikely due to their friendship, Lovell’s comments emphasize the changing landscape of the middleweight division.
