Stream UFC 296 on ESPN+ https://plus.espn.com/ufc/ppv Leon Edwards speaks with Karyn Bryant, Laura Sanko and Alan …
let’s take a look at these two side by side Leon Edwards and Colby comington when we look the champ has the edge in the Striking accuracy and overall wins he’s been doing better on a win streak but k v Covington of course has the edge in takedowns and significant strikes landed per minute and with that said we now welcome in the champ Mr Leon Edwards thank you so much for joining us today and I’m curious what your confidence level is like right now because if we’re to believe social media people are leaving your gym because you are not confident um my confidence always been Skyrocket High you know so going to my second taret defense I feel good um I don’t know what nobody else is talking about I’m in Tik Tok shape ready to go well listen how do you feel about facing Cole because in many ways he is kind of similar to kamaru I’m imagining does that make your prep a little easier um 100% I think going back to back with kamaru and then um facing a guy like called com it def helps you know like instead of going for like a striker to a wrestler I think like it definely helps you know so I think he’s pretty similar far like a boxing wrestling kind of style but probably a a little bit more um output I would say so um it’s defin been an interesting Camp I feel good I’m in shape and I’m looking forward to it Leon do you feel like you’re finally getting the respect that you deserve as a champion because there were still a few people out there saying okay there was some luck involved with that head kick but then you went out there and you did it again you got the win again do you feel like you’re getting that respect now ah yeah 100% um that’s I’m I’m the most wins in the division right it’s like 11 I think in a row um went out there beat number one in the world twice um now I’m going to going out there to to take out KOB comton so after just keep racking them up I don’t really care too much about what people think or what they’re say and just keep doubt me I win doubt me I win and that’s just my that’s been my story right so as is what it is well don’t sell yourself too short because that’s actually 12 unbeaten in a row it’s an absolutely incredible streak you got there uh talk to me about you know you you’ve got a fight week with Colby Covington coming up and everybody knows what that means I think people are expecting a uh very spicy press conference especially considering how many welterweights overall are on this card how do you what are your expectations for that and do you have sort of a game plan coming into a fight week against Kobe um not really not really I think Kobe came out and set himself right he’s character so it’s easier to take his banter you know he’s only he’s only playing a character and so it hard to get under my skin I think there’s a lot more going to happen um out the pressor between either Kobe Ian and other waterweight more than me and Kobe you know so let’s see um how it plays out Leon you mentioned after this fight possibly wanting to make a run at the 185 pound title there’s a couple of people out there that have been upset with that comment what do you have to say to those people um one not there to be great right like I said I’ve been doubed my whole career i’ I’ve overcome the odds become world champion well towe um the 12 fights in a row when the longest win Street in in welterweight history you know so why not go up there and and and be great you know I’ve already done it already at welterweight so I love to go out there challenge myself um at middleweight and then come back down to a and and continue Mor rain you know you’d like to go up and and then come back down so um if you’re at the helm at welterweight or not looking at this C there’s obviously a number of other welterweights on it is there one fighter in particular on this card that you see fighting for the weight welterweight strap one day um not really not really I’m not really like studed too much into who’s who’s on the card and who’s fine you know and I’m more focused on KOB comton he’s a a good fight I’ve got my hands you know so I am focused completely in that and whoever make a stand up performance that night May maybe they next you know and we’ll see from there Leon when you look at sort of the the span of your entire career you are you have already beaten one of the greatest of all time in this division what does this fight against Colby uh mean in terms of your career what would a win here mean for you um I think just cements my my legacy right um I think Dana came out before and said if if Kamar W the champion Kobe would be the champion you know so I feel like me going out there and taking out um someone like Kobe just keep adding to my story you know and um that’s that’s it really it’s just another fight and another person in front of me he’s he going be my in winning a row and that’s just it there’s no ill ill will towards him um his skill set in what he he does provide um he’s he’s decent in what in what he does but I kind see what what he does different that can stop me or beat me you know I actually wanted to ask you about that because when you’re fighting somebody who hasn’t been that active you know he could come out and be completely surprising and complete be completely different um would you have preferred maybe to face somebody who’s been a little bit more active you got maybe a little bit more fight footage of um not really I can’t see how someone that’s 36 years old 35 years old fought the same way for the last how many years now come out and be totally different as can’t see that happening you know just that’s never happened in history of fighting and um so let’s see what what and do I think everyone knows what’s come out to do it’s come out to heavy pressure Swing Swing box in to shoot under you and um grind you out burn the clock down and wins win that way you know and I think that everyone knows what he’s coming to do and I’m prepared for it nice well we are very much looking forward to it of course you’ll be the last man to make the walk at UFC 296 so thank you so much for joining us and best of luck champ thank you thanks for having me all right thank you so much Le what a lovely gentleman folks well as a reminder let’s take a look at that card it is pretty spectacular two title fights on that uh besides Leon and Colby of course we are going to see Pantoja versus Roa we’ve got um shavecut versus Wonderboy Tony Ferguson versus Patty the daddy did you guys see he’s going to have twins now pretty incredible also a former teammates Clash when luk uh fights Machado Gary so that is the main card there at UFC 296 it is going to be incredible [Music] oh