Can Cerrone Stay Relevant and Can Edwards Take The Next Step:
By Dan McConnell
The UFC returns to Singapore this Saturday lunch time for UK viewers after it’s last outing in June of 2017. Hopefully we will have a similar memorable card, I mean who dosen’t remember Holly Holm’s head kick knock-out over Bethe Corriea to end her 3 fight loosing skid?
The big question on everyone’s lips this time around in Singapore is can the man from England Leon Edwards add to his current 5-fight win streak by defeating a seasoned veteran in Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, helping him jump into the top 10 of the UFC’s Welterweight rankings?
Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards who holds a professional MMA record of 15-3, faces his toughest test inside the UFC octagon so far. If Leon can pull together an impressive win (which is usually by devastating knock-out) over a WEC and UFC veteran this will surely catch the attention of the UFC matchmakers and land him a spot within the top 10 of the division. Edwards will need to legitimise his ranking inside the top 10 of the staked Welterweight division and set him on his quest to reach the top 5 with the aim for a title shot.
Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone (33-10) is a very tough opponent to defeat despite his recent dip in form. Cowboy has a wealth of octagon experience and is a very intelligent fighter who uses his kicks and jab to set up his sublime offense. Just look at his highlight-reel combo knock-out victory over Rick Story. He is a man who dosen’t blow over as easy as the tumble weed you see in the old Wild-Western movies featuring John Wayne.
The man from Birmingham England, Edwards will look to follow the path Liverpool’s Darren Till has set when he defeated Cowboy which opened the gateway for him to face a top 5 opponent in the Welterweight division. If Edwards can come away with a win, this will be a huge feather in his cap.
Leon trains with his brother Fabian Edwards at Team Renegade in Birmingham who is on his own quest for a BAMMA World title shot and is one of the hottest prospects in the UK mixed martial arts scene. Fabian ‘The Assassin’ Edwards will look to use a possible BAMMA world title shot as a gateway into the UFC, following in the footsteps of Leon who won and defended his BAMMA Welterweight Championship before signing for the UFC. Fabian also delivers and dispatches opponents with lightning fast strikes, just like his brother and has been a key element in Leon’s preparation for this huge fight.
Leon also has former Geordie Shore reality series star Aaron Chalmers in his corner, who himself from making the jump to fighting has destroyed opponents in the BAMMA Welterweight division and has made his debut under the Bellator banner, considered one of the best mixed martial arts organisation in the world.
Chalmers who himself has been tearing through opponents in BAMMA and most recently via submission in Bellator, has got a lot of negative hate from fans because of his reality-TV link but there is no doubt this wont stop ‘The Joker’ on climbing the ranks with Bellator.
UFC fighter Tom Breese who has spent many years at Tristar under the watchful eye of Firas Zahabi, one of the most intelligent and well-respected head coaches in the game who is responsible for a lot of GSP’s successes. Breese trains with the Edwards brothers and Chalmers adding his wealth of BJJ and wrestling knowledge to the mix. There is certainly something in the water at Team Renegade.
Leon Edwards is surrounded by exceptional training partners throughout his training camp and there is no doubt him and his team knows this is the biggest opportunity of his life. Can Leon Edwards defeat Donald Cerrone? We don’t have long to find out.
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