UFC Singapore: Leon Edwards eyeing impressive finish of Donald Cerrone to move up rankings
UFC SINGAPORE - LEON EDWARDS believes he must finish Donald Cerrone this weekend if he's to make inroads in the UFC's welterweight rankings.
Edwards locks horns with Cerrone on Saturday morning at UFC Fight Night 132, which takes place in Singapore.
The Birmingham native enters the biggest bout of his career riding a five-fight win streak, which he extended in March with a third-round TKO victory over Peter Sobotta.
In Edward's opinion, a fight against one of the welterweight division's established fighters should've come after he registered his third and fourth consecutive UFC victories against Vincente Luque and Bryan Barbarena.
And for that reason, 'Rocky' believes it's imperative he stops Cerrone in emphatic fashion.
"I have to go out there and perform," Edwards told Express Sport. "I have to go out there and finish him in this fight.
"I don’t feel a decision will be good enough."
Should he defeat Cerrone, Edwards - the number 13 ranked 170lbs fighter in the world - believes his name will shoot up the UFC's welterweight rankings.
He added: "After beating him, I’ll be on s six-fight win streak, top-ten. I should be sitting good after this."
On paper, Cerrone will be the toughest test Edwards has faced in his burgeoning mixed martial arts career.
The UTC product is well aware of that fact and is anticipating a tough encounter with 'Cowboy', who enters his 45th professional outing on the back of a one-round war with Yancy Medeiros.
Although he has immense respect for Cerrone and his skillset, Edwards is confident he can see off the fan-favourite.
“I’m confident about fighting all these guys,” Edwards said. “Everyone in the top ten, one to ten, I’m confident. Cerrone is now on the list.
“I’ve looked at his game with my coaches and now I’m more confident that I can go out there do what I need to do.
“But I’m looking forward to going out there and performing. It won’t be easy, but I know I’ll beat him.”
Before landing his main event slot with Cerrone, Edwards had his sights set on fighting in America.
However, he's now keen to headline a show in his hometown of Birmingham, just like his fellow British welterweight Darren Till did in Liverpool last month.
"I think the hometown show, in my hometown of Birmingham, I’d prefer that,” he said. "But “I’d like to go and fight in Vegas and America.
“Either or, it doesn’t bother me. But I’ll pushing for the pushing for the Birmingham show."
Watch UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: COWBOY VS. EDWARDS live on BT Sport 2 from 1pm BST on Saturday, June 23, or catch the Early Prelims exclusively on UFC Fight Pass from 9:30am BST