What should come next for Jorge Masvidal? Leon Edwards, Ben Askren, Kamaru Usman, or something else?
Cole Henry, Host – MMA Scope Podcast
The only answer here is Leon Edwards… Masvidal is currently enjoying a wave of popularity that he likely hasn’t ever felt before, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s still just 1-2 over his last three fights. His reaction to Leon Edwards taunts during his interview with Lauren Sanko pretty much sets up that fight in my opinion and I don’t see how the UFC can keep from booking a fight that has such obvious heat around it.
Sean Covington, Columnist – Covington’s Corner
It’s obviously Leon Edwards, gotta do that fight and let it main event a card where there is no title on the line. Ben Askren needs to fight Tyron Woodley, then Darren Till, Wonder Boy then depending on his record after that the champion setting up Robbie Lawler vs Ben Askren 2 for the title. Leon Edwards is talking trash but he got beat up by Masvidal and Masvidal killed Darren Till just minutes before that so Edwards should shut up. Usman needs to fight someone who is hungry and wants to actually fight because Woodley sure didn’t. I believe Usman won’t keep that title long but I could be wrong, I’m not exactly confident in that division but maybe if we have some weight class jumpers it’ll be interesting.
Frank Hyden, Columnist – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Masvidal should fight Leon Edwards next. A grudge match like that would propel him forward a bit more than a win over a guy around his ranking. A win over Askren would be big but I don’t think the UFC will go that route so the fight with Edwards is probably best for him. Might as well strike while the iron is hot.
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Michael Hiscoe, MMATorch Managing Editor
We talked through this a bit on this week’s MMA Talk for Pro Wrestling Fans podcast. There is an obvious reason to do Masvidal-Edwards after what went down on Saturday, but there is also an argument to be made for not booking the fight so you’re not rewarding fighters for getting into fights backstage. Masvidal may have leapfrogged Colby Covington for the welterweight title shot, but I wouldn’t put him in that position quite yet. The fight I’d love to see if they can make it happen is the previously book fight against Nick Diaz that fell apart earlier this year.
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