UFC Welterweight Champ Leon Edwards Scores Crazy Basketball Trickshot – ‘Insane Power’
UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards teased fans with his basketball skills as he landed an immense trick shot.
Edwards will defend his welterweight title for the third time against Belal Muhammad on July 27 at UFC 304. Edwards won the belt after beating Kamaru Usman at UFC 278. The champion stopped Usman in the rematch and defended the belt with a victory against Colby Covington at UFC 296. Edwards rematched Belal after their 2021 clash was declared a no-contest. Leon accidentally poked Belal in the eye, as the fight could not continue.
While both men have the chance to set that right, Edwards has also been keeping himself busy with life outside the Octagon. The following clip shows him taking a jog. As he does so, he makes his way towards a basketball court. Someone passes the ball to him. Before it bounces, Edwards hits it on the half-volley. The ball travels a long distance before it lands in the hoop, much to the excitement of everyone.
Edwards’ Trickshot
Elsewhere, Edwards’ coach, Dave Lovell, has shut down talks of a fight with Nate Diaz. Diaz entertained the fight after beating Jorge Masvidal in their boxing fight as he called out the UFC Welterweight Champion. It would be a match of their first clash, where Edwards won a unanimous decision at UFC 263 in 2021. Diaz’s last UFC fight was in 2022 when he beat Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. Since Ferguson lost seven on the spin, the victory was a huge milestone compared to the time when Ferguson was in his prime. While a Diaz fight would sell, Lovell had other plans for his fighter.
“It’s all a joke. Leon ain’t got time for that Mickey Mouse business right now. Fair play to him that Nate is making money still and he’s still fighting, but me, personally, I think he needs to leave the game alone. He’s taken a little bit too much punishment now. I know it was only boxing with Jorge, but it’s still taking its toll on him, you know? Remember, this guy’s got life after fighting and if he carries on the way he is, he’s not going to have much of a life. I love him and he’s a great guy, but sometimes fighters need to be saved from themselves. I think Nate is one of those cases,” Lovell said
Edwards’ Future
Those comments are understandable, as there are bigger fights out there. Edwards could face UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev. Islam teased the idea of moving up to welterweight. He is coming off a win against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. He was linked with fighting Arman Tsarukyan next. However, Tsarukyan is suspended for nine months for punching a fan at UFC 300. A fight with Edwards would increase his legacy, allowing Islam to become a two-weight world champion. Edwards is open to that fight and a move up to middleweight.
“For sure, for sure. I feel like we’ve both got work to do within our division. I feel Islam just fought his first actual lightweight (Poirier). He fought Volk, but this is his first actual lightweight he’s fought within the division.
“He’s on a three defense streak. After I beat Belal, that will be my third, as well, so we’re both on similar paths. I can see that happening in the future. Also, I would like to move up, as well, and challenge for the middleweight belt hopefully,” Edwards stated
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