The former Welterweight champion, Leon Edwards, has confirmed his return to action. Speak with Bloodyelbow, Rockystated ‘November’ for his return to UFC 322, which is planned in the historic Madison Square Garden in New York. He also confirmed that the current Welterweight King, Jack della Maddelena, will be confronted on the map for former lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev.
🚨 Exclusive
🗓️ Leon Edwards has confirmed @Bloodyelbow That he intends to return to the Octagon at UFC 322 on the Undercard of Jack della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev.
🥊 It will start with what he says will be a 1-2 fighting plan to return to title conflicts.
✍️ Full story below pic.twitter.com/W7QIK612G2
– Word (@donaghcorby_) August 22, 2025
Who will Leon Edwards be confronted with?
Leon Edwards is in a difficult situation. He had to endure a winning run of 10 fights to get a title shot. After making two impressive defense of his belt, he would lose the belt in the dominant way to Belal Muhammad. He would then return to action just to be dominated again; This time, however, he was ready by Sean Brady.
Rank on #4, Edwards is still at a moving distance of a title shot, probably only one victory removed from re -competing for the belt. However, it all depends on his next fight.
There is one logical fight, especially in New York City for Leon Edwards. It is an all-European collision with Ian Machado Garry. Garry is at #6 and is reflected from his lonely loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov with a decision gain against the in-shape, Carlos Prates.
Where Edwards struggled in his last two fights is his removal and bottom competition. He has been removed 14 times in those two fights and has been brought down five times in each of his last five fights. Garry is mainly a striker, on average only 1.02 removal per fight, is more than able to struggle when needed.
Why Garry is a good shout to face Edwards in New York is because the UFC and Dana White de Irish like to put on big cards. Of his 10 UFC fights, eight have been on PPV and one of those who were not, he was the headliner. He also debuted in Madison Square Garden in 2021.
Who else?
Another potential opponent for Leon Edawards is Carlos Prates. The exciting Brazilian is in the division at #9 and recently bounced back from his first UFC loss with a rotating elbow knockout from Geoff Neal. Prates is 5-1 in the UFC, where he eliminates every opponent he has beaten and received a performance of the night bonus for every victory. He is exactly the kind of hunter that should compete on large cards and UFC 322 is exactly that.
He called Edwards for a fight in Brazil in October, but depositing the fight for a month and making it for UFC 322 in November is logical.
Another opponent that could be Edwards is Michael Morales. The Ecuadorian is undefeated, arranged #7 and is in a tear in the UFC. He is 6-0 in the promotion, scored four knockouts and his last two fights have brought him from the night bonuses. On 18-0 and only 26 years old, the future is rosy for Morales. Having a former champion on his file would be favorable for Morales, so it could be made more instead of later.
Whatever happens, it will be good to see RockyLeon Edwards back in the Octagon.
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