Leon Edwards responds after Tyron Woodley says ‘f*ck that’ to fighting in London

Streaking UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards was hoping to fight Tyron Woodley, the former welterweight champ, when the UFC returns to London this March.

Unfortunately for Edwards, Woodley is not interested in fighting overseas. 

“I’m ready to fight soon, man,” Woodley said during a live chat with fans on social media. “They want me to fight in London. F*ck that, I’m not going all the way to London to fight. I’m the five-time world champion, I’m gonna fight f*cking here. January 18th, January 25th, February 8th, I wanna fight in the States. I don’t wanna go out of the country and fight. When I go out of the country I wanna be on vacation.”

Speaking on MMA Fighting‘s Eurobash podcast, Edwards responded to Woodley’s clear disinterest in fighting in London.

“I’m hoping he takes it, but from what I’m hearing he won’t come to London,” Edwards said. “He says he’ll fight, but not in London. That makes no sense. We’re in negotiations now and hopefully I’ll know this week. I’m meeting with the UFC, so I’ll have more information about that and what’s going on. What I’m hearing is he doesn’t want to come to London, so we’re trying to force him to come to London.”

Edwards continued, reminding that he’s undefeated on UK soil — which he believes factors into Woodley’s reluctance.

“I’ve never lost a fight in the U.K., from amateur to pro,” he said. “He’s probably looking at that thinking, ‘I don’t want to go over there and get beat,’ because where does he go [from there]? Like I said, he’s making excuses from the jump.”

Whatever the case, Edwards feels that this is a fight that makes sense — and one that will earn him the respect he’s owed.

“I’m ready to go. I think that’s the fight that makes the most sense,” he said. “Everyone else has been matched or has just fought so I think me and Woodley, the former world champion, would be the next step to make. We’re pushing for it…hopefully it should get done.”

“What will they say when I go and beat a former world champion?” Edwards added. “What will they say then because every time I get a win they make a new excuse. Let’s see what they say after I go out there and beat someone like Tyron Woodley. I’m ready to go, I deserved that title shot two or three fights ago. I’m just gonna keep doing my thing, keep winning. I’ll be taking a very close look at the welterweight title fight this week and I’ll go from there.”

Does a fight between Leon Edwards and Tyron Woodley interest you? Do you think the fight should happen in London? Let us know in the comments.

This article first appeared on BJPENN.com on 12/10/2019.