{"id":378078,"date":"2021-03-05T10:46:28","date_gmt":"2021-03-05T18:46:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/?p=378078"},"modified":"2021-03-05T10:46:28","modified_gmt":"2021-03-05T18:46:28","slug":"photo-leon-edwards-looking-ripped-ahead-of-long-awaited-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/mma-news\/ufc\/photo-leon-edwards-looking-ripped-ahead-of-long-awaited-return\/","title":{"rendered":"Photo | Leon Edwards looking ripped ahead of long-awaited return"},"content":{"rendered":"

No. 3-ranked UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards is looking absolutely shredded ahead of his anticipated return to the Octagon.<\/p>\n

Edwards has not fought since a July, 2019 fight with Rafael dos Anjos, which he won by unanimous decision. However, his lengthy layoff is hardly his fault.<\/p>\n

Edwards was originally expected to return to the cage opposite former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in early 2020. Unfortunately, that fight fell through due to the early travel restrictions associated with the coronavirus pandemic. He was then slated to fight rising welterweight prospect Khamzat Chimaev on three separate occasions, but the fight fell through each time the UFC tried to make it happen.<\/p>\n

After Chimaev withdrew from the third attempt at this matchup, Edwards was then matched up with No. 13 welterweight contender Belal Muhammad<\/a>. That fight goes down on March 13.<\/p>\n

Despite his long break from competition, Edwards is in phenomenal shape as his return draws nearer. On Friday morning, the Brit took to Instagram to flaunt his fight-ready physique.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Leon "Rocky" Edwards (@leonedwardsmma)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n