Former UFC Interim Welterweight Champion Colby Covington and UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman were reportedly set to meet at UFC 244, but negotiations fell apart and the bout never came together.
Leon Edwards claims that if a deal cannot be reached between the UFC and Covington, it will then be himself who gets a welterweight title shot.
“They said if the Colby (Covington) fight can’t get done, then I’m the next in line, so I believe I will be next in December,” Edwards said on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show (via Farah Hannoun of MMA Junkie).
Covington blames the UFC’s “slave labor negotiations” for the bout not coming together, while UFC President Dana White says Covington wanted more money to fight Usman.
Edwards has heard that both the UFC and Covington are still at a stalemate, so he’ll be ready to go for a title shot.
“They’re at a stalemate,” Edwards said. “I think Colby (Covington) is asking for too much money or whatever it is, but I put my name in the hat, and I told them I am ready to go. I deserve the shot, I’m on the second most win streak in the whole division, so I believe I deserve the shot.”
There has been no word from either the UFC or Usman as to whether or not Edwards is next in line for a shot at the welterweight gold.
