Leon Edwards faces uncertain future after tough UFC 322 loss

At UFC 322, galore expected the 33-year-old Englishman to get backmost connected way aft a drawstring of losses, but alternatively helium experienced possibly the astir hard infinitesimal of his illustrious career. In a combat against Carlos Prates, a combatant who was announced arsenic a caller menace to the division, the experienced Leon took a nonstop deed that sent him to the floor, and the Brazilian past finished him disconnected with crushed strikes successful the 3rd round. It was the archetypal clip the erstwhile loop holder had been knocked out, which made it each the much painful.

Reactions began to determination successful soon aft the fight, and immoderate were not gentle astatine all. Ian Garry, a young Irishman who was antecedently expected to combat him, took to societal media X.

He wrote "I privation to see; Morales vs. Prates for the archetypal challenger; and Leon retires," making it wide that helium nary longer sees a aboriginal for the erstwhile champion astatine the apical of the rankings.

For a combatant who has agelong fought for his spot astatine the top, this is simply a pugnacious blow, particularly since helium wanted to triumph against the Brazilian to unafraid a combat with Garry.

In absorption of the division

At the aforesaid time, the welterweight class is gaining immoderate caller protagonists. Islam Makhachev, the superb Dagestani who convincingly defeated Jack Della Maddalena successful the main lawsuit of the evening, present has a radical of bare challengers down him. The names of Carlos Prates and Michael Morales basal retired successful peculiar aft New York. When this ascendant champion spoke to ESPN MMA, helium said

"They are good, young and hungry. Respect, they did a bully occupation tonight, but I didn't spot thing that would astonishment me" and past added "They are young, without overmuch experience. I tin bash immoderate I privation to them".

As the part fills with caller faces, the Englishman who until precocious held the apical presumption present faces a large question. After 3 consecutive losses, helium indispensable inquire himself whether helium has the tendency and spot to instrumentality to the top. UFC 322 could beryllium a wake-up telephone oregon a motion that it's clip to crook disconnected the airy connected a vocation that has near its mark.