Leon Edwards’ next opponent revealed as ex-UFC champ plots return to title picture

Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards’ next opponent has been revealed. Edwards will headline the UFC‘s first London card in nearly two years on March 22 at The 02 Arena. Leon Edwards will defend his UFC title soonGetty The 33-year-old will face off against Australian contender Jack Della Maddalena, who is fourth in the welterweight rankings. Della Maddalena is unbeaten in his last 17 fights, with 14 stoppages in that sensational run. However, the Aussie star has not fought since March 9 last year when he knocked out Gilbert Burns at UFC 209 but suffered a broken forearm in the process. Della Maddalena had hoped to recover in time to fight at UFC 305 in Perth, his hometown, last August, but the date ultimately proved too soon. The 28-year-old was forced to undergo multiple surgeries due to ongoing issues with his forearm as muscle tissue and even some of his bone became infected. After his win over Burns, Della Maddalena called out unbeaten Kazakh star Shavkat Rakhmanov, but the fight failed to materialise. Edwards takes on Della Maddalena in his first fight since dropping his welterweight championship to Belal Muhammad in July at UFC 304 in Manchester. Muhammad emerged with an unanimous decision verdict to take home the title and handed Edwards the fourth loss of his career. The American star was due to make his first title defence at UFC 310 against Rakhmanov but was forced out due to a nasty bone infection in his foot. Brazilian star Carlos Prates had previously hinted on social media he was the man in line to take on Edwards in London. Edwards is aiming to return to winning ways after losing his welterweight belt to MuhammadGetty Prates remains undefeated in the UFC and has won all five of his fights in the promotion via knockout, which would have set up a blockbuster bout against the former champ. But Edwards will have to overcome Della Maddalena instead if he is to return to the welterweight title picture. However, the winner will have to wait for Rakhmanov to fight Muhammad as the Kazakh cemented his status as the number one contender for the title with a win over Ian Machado Garry. Also featuring on the card is a mouthwatering light heavyweight showdown between former champion Jan Blachowicz and Carlos Ulberg. Ulberg is riding a seven-fight win streak and sits sixth in the light heavyweight rankings, but Blachowicz will undoubtedly be his toughest test to date. Fan favourite Molly McCann is in action on the main card against Brazil’s Istela Nunes. Della Maddalena produced a vicious finish to beat Burns in his last fightGetty McCann has won just once in her last four fights and will be desperate to avoid another defeat. UFC London - Full Card Leon Edwards v Jack Della Maddalena Jan Blachowicz v Carlos Ulberg Molly McCann v Istela Nunes Nathaniel Wood v Morgan Charriere Jai Herbert v Chris Padilla Alonzo Menifield v Oumar Sy Marcin Tybura v Mick Parkin Lone’er Kavanagh v Felipe Dos Santos Christian Leroy Duncan v Andrey Pulyaev Shauna Bannon v Puja Tomar Nathan Fletcher v Caolan Loughran

Jan 18, 2025 - 00:24

Leon Edwards’ next opponent revealed as ex-UFC champ plots return to title picture

Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards’ next opponent has been revealed.

Edwards will headline the UFC‘s first London card in nearly two years on March 22 at The 02 Arena.

Leon Edwards will defend his UFC title soon

The 33-year-old will face off against Australian contender Jack Della Maddalena, who is fourth in the welterweight rankings.

Della Maddalena is unbeaten in his last 17 fights, with 14 stoppages in that sensational run.

However, the Aussie star has not fought since March 9 last year when he knocked out Gilbert Burns at UFC 209 but suffered a broken forearm in the process.

Della Maddalena had hoped to recover in time to fight at UFC 305 in Perth, his hometown, last August, but the date ultimately proved too soon.

The 28-year-old was forced to undergo multiple surgeries due to ongoing issues with his forearm as muscle tissue and even some of his bone became infected.

After his win over Burns, Della Maddalena called out unbeaten Kazakh star Shavkat Rakhmanov, but the fight failed to materialise.

Edwards takes on Della Maddalena in his first fight since dropping his welterweight championship to Belal Muhammad in July at UFC 304 in Manchester.

Muhammad emerged with an unanimous decision verdict to take home the title and handed Edwards the fourth loss of his career.

The American star was due to make his first title defence at UFC 310 against Rakhmanov but was forced out due to a nasty bone infection in his foot.

Brazilian star Carlos Prates had previously hinted on social media he was the man in line to take on Edwards in London.

Edwards is aiming to return to winning ways after losing his welterweight belt to Muhammad

Prates remains undefeated in the UFC and has won all five of his fights in the promotion via knockout, which would have set up a blockbuster bout against the former champ.

But Edwards will have to overcome Della Maddalena instead if he is to return to the welterweight title picture.

However, the winner will have to wait for Rakhmanov to fight Muhammad as the Kazakh cemented his status as the number one contender for the title with a win over Ian Machado Garry.

Also featuring on the card is a mouthwatering light heavyweight showdown between former champion Jan Blachowicz and Carlos Ulberg.

Ulberg is riding a seven-fight win streak and sits sixth in the light heavyweight rankings, but Blachowicz will undoubtedly be his toughest test to date.

Fan favourite Molly McCann is in action on the main card against Brazil’s Istela Nunes.