UFC prospect Khamzat Chimaev has accepted a challenge from top welterweight Leon Edwards after “Rocky” called him out on Twitter.
Edwards was removed from the UFC rankings due to inactivity on Thursday in a decision that has ignited plenty of criticism online. Although Edwards hasn’t fought in 15 months, Brian Ortega hadn’t fought in 22 months and was kept in the rankings the entire time. It seems as though Edwards being removed from the rankings is as much about the UFC being frustrated with him turning down fights than it was to him sitting on the sidelines.
If you ask Edwards, though, it’s actually other fighters who are turning down fights. Frustrated with being taken out of the rankings, Edwards now appears willing to get back into the cage. Soon after broke of Edwards’ removed from the rankings Thursday, the Brit took to Twitter to call out Chimaev. And now Chimaev has accepted his challenge.
I'm still in the rankings. Fuck all the inactivity, the only reason I havent fought is because all these so called top guys turned me down.
Khamzat want to fight then?
— Leon 'Rocky' Edwards (@Leon_edwardsmma) October 22, 2020
I’m still in the rankings. F*ck all the inactivity, the only reason I havent fought is because all these so called top guys turned me down. Khamzat want to fight then?
https://twitter.com/kchimaev/status/1319394341161472001
I’m always ready to fight. Let’s go. Rock’n’roll baby
Although Edwards isn’t technically ranked anymore and the UFC was hoping to book Chimaev against a top-15 opponent, we all know that Edwards is a top-five talent at 170. Both Edwards and Chimaev seem to have a hard time getting opponents as of late, so Edwards extending an olive branch to fight Chimaev seems like an ideal situation.
There is a card on November 14 in Las Vegas that currently does not have the main event booked. Chimaev seems likely to be the headliner of that card against someone else and perhaps Edwards could be that guy. If November 14 is too soon for Edwards to be ready for Chimaev, there are a few events in December that could also use a big fight.
Do you want to see Khamzat Chimaev vs. Leon Edwards?