Leon Edwards is targeting a showdown with Jorge Masivdal at Madison Square Garden as he bids to become the top welterweight contender before the end of 2019.
The rising UFC star is fresh off a classy destruction of Rafael Dos Anjos and is on an eight-fight winning streak.
Edwards and Masvidal scrapped backstage at UFC London back in March and the British fighter has been chasing a clash with Gamebred ever since.
Masvidal is demanding a title shot after producing the quickest knockout in UFC history against Ben Askren, but Edwards rubbished his rival’s claim he is next in line for a shot at gold.
‘He’s been promised nothing,’ Edwards told Metro.co.uk. ‘I don’t think he deserves a title shot. He’s on a two-fight winning streak, but before he’d lost two in a row and disappeared for over a year.
‘I don’t understand how he could think putting two wins together means he can demand a title shot? Two fights ago he was about to be cut from the UFC.
‘I don’t think he deserves a title shot. If Colby Covington’s fighting Robbie Lawler in a few weeks and he wins, they’ll probably give him the title shot because he was the interim champion.
‘That’ll leave me and Masvidal to fight for the No.1 stop. Masvidal doesn’t deserve a title shot, and definitely not over me.’
Masvidal has already dismissed the call-out, prompting Edwards to brand the American a ‘weasel’.
The backstage brawl at London stirred fight fans’ interest and appeared to inspire the usually straight talking Edwards to take aim at his fellow fighter.
The UFC’s annual appearance at Madison Square Garden is set for 2 November this year and Edwards thinks a No.1 contender clash with Masvidal in New York is the perfect way to end 2019.
‘My vision is I’ll be world champion or No.1 contender going into next year. I’ve got one more fight this year. I’m hoping to get on Madison Square in New York in November,’ he said.
‘I’m just talking facts and being truthful. I don’t shit talk. He doesn’t deserve a title shot and I am better than him.
‘I’ve got more wins than him. I just beat a former world champion and he’s just beat Ben Askren, who’s had one fight in the UFC.
So I can be clear I was promised a title shot after I beat askren and I plan on cashing in on it. Don’t call me out no more until I get that belt #supernecessary
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) July 21, 2019
‘Those are simple facts. I’m better than him, I want to smash his face and that’s it.’
Edwards says there is only two options for his next fight, “title shot or Masvidal”, with Kamaru Usman currently ruling over the welterweight division.
Usman is yet to defend the title he won in March and Edwards’ last defeat came against the Nigerian four years ago.
Edwards have risen to No.4 in the rankings with wins over Donald Cerrone, Gunnar Nelson and Dos Anjos since that loss, but Edwards explained he was nowhere near his best.
‘When it’s time for my peak, I can’t imagine how good I’ll be,’ he said.
‘I feel I’m only at 50% or 60% of what I can do. I’ve got so much more to show, so much more to do. I’m a way better the level that I’m fighting at, at the moment.
‘Everyone doubts me whenever I’m in against a good opponent, saying I can’t beat him, and then what happens? I’ll keep working hard, believing in me, my team and the UK.’
MORE: Michael Venom Page: Dillian Whyte not the type to intentionally take performance enhancing drugs
