Leon Edwards is planning to make his return to the UFC towards the end of this year. This timeline is set to allow his brother, Fabian Edwards, to first focus on his pursuit of the middleweight title.
The former UFC welterweight champion lost his title to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 last summer in Manchester. Following this, he experienced another defeat against Sean Brady at UFC London last month, marking the first time in his career he has lost two fights in a row.
Despite these setbacks, Leon Edwards is already back in training. He`s working on improving his skills and game plan after these defeats. Currently, he is in Orlando to support his brother Fabian, who is competing in the quarter-finals of the PFL World Tournament against Impa Kasanganay for a chance to win $500,000.
Leon Edwards Aiming for Octagon Return in Late 2025
After his recent losses, Leon Edwards has returned to training to refine his skills and prepare for a strong comeback to the UFC. However, his immediate focus is on supporting his brother Fabian Edwards in the PFL World Tournament.
Fabian`s participation in this knockout tournament involves potentially fighting three times: first, then again around late June, and finally in August if he reaches the final. This schedule allows Leon enough time to concentrate on his own career and prepare for another title run.
Fabian Edwards discussed his brother`s plans with Bloody Elbow, stating, “I think it will be a combination of both training for himself to improve and helping me. He`s developing, fixing what he needs to, and assisting me. Afterwards, he’ll probably look for a fight towards the year`s end.”
“He’s been watching my sparring sessions, traveled with me to Florida, and he’s doing well. He`s spending time with family and everyone.” Fabian also commented on the UFC`s matchmaking for Leon: “The UFC has never favored us with easy matchups. It`s never been about giving Leon a stylistically favorable fight. It`s always felt like they try to find someone who can beat him. They`ve succeeded in the last two fights, but we keep pushing forward.”
“Our coaches always say, ‘Keep winning, and they can’t deny you.’ That’s what he did. He kept winning, earned a title shot, and defended his title. Not many can claim that, and it’s a historical achievement.”
Fabian Edwards Discusses Brother’s Recent Losses
The past year has been challenging for the Edwards family, with losses in both UFC and PFL events. Leon lost to Muhammad and Brady, and Fabian also faced an unsuccessful title challenge against Johnny Eblen in Bellator.
These circumstances have motivated Fabian. He shared insights into how he and Leon have been coping with recent defeats.
“Whenever we fight, losing is never in our minds,” Edwards explained. “Stylistically, the Brady fight was tough, and Brady has improved since his previous loss. We knew it would be difficult. If Leon had suffered a severe injury, it might be worse. But the fact that he couldn`t perform to his potential is hard to accept, but that’s the nature of this sport.”
