LEON EDWARDS has raised a potentially huge concern for imminent UFC welterweight challenger Islam Makhachev.
Former pound-for-pound king Makhachev moves up from lightweight early on Sunday morning to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight crown in the main event of UFC 322.
Mixed martial arts fans around the world are divided over who will win the Madison Square Garden melee.
And so is Edwards, who trained with Makhachev during his time at American Kickboxing Academy and did a full camp for champion Della Maddalena earlier this year.
In an exclusive interview with SunSport: “I don’t know [who will win].
“I keep going back and forth on it. Who can implement their game the best, right?
“I feel like watching the Belal [Muhammad] and JDM fight, I feel like when Belal started wrestling in rounds four and five, he started having greater success.
“He only lost the fight when he was trying to box for the first three rounds.
“So [what] if Islam comes out and just wants to wrestle for the whole five fives?”
Makhachev will have the benefit of not having to perform a gruelling weight cut this week.
And his physique is already reaping the rewards of what will be an additional 15lbs come fight night.
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But with that weight comes concerns about his gas tank, which are on par with questions about his ability to take shots from a naturally much bigger man.
Edwards asked: “Can he keep the pace to do it at welterweight? You know what I mean?
“[Especially] when he’s getting body shots and headshots. I don’t know [who’s going to win].
“I’m actually intrigued. As a fan as well, to see how it plays out. You know what I mean?”
Edwards will make the walk to the very same octagon Makhachev and JDM will throw down in when he locks horns with Brazilian sensation Carlos Prates.
But he doesn’t plan to make championship weight at Friday’s official weigh-ins, which he’ll need to do to make himself eligible to fight for the title if the main event falls apart in any way.
After letting out a laugh, he said with a smile on his face: “I’m taking allowance, bro.
“I’m taking allowance, and just going from there.”
Leon Edwards takes on Carlos Prates on the undercard of UFC: 322 Della Maddalena vs Makhachev live on Saturday, November 15 at Madison Square Garden, New York.
The main card will be live on TNT Sport 1 from 3am GMT on Sunday 16th November. For more info, click here
