One of the biggest simmering grudge matches is all set to finally take place inside the octagon.
According to a report from Ariel Helwani, Leon Edwards and Jorge Masvidal have agreed to face each other in a three-round welterweight clash on the main card of UFC 269, which will take place on December 11. The event is expected to be held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The rivalry between the pair started backstage at The O2 Arena after both men had picked up notable victories at UFC London. Edwards had defeated Gunnar Nelson, while Masvidal had stunned the English crowd by getting off the canvas to knock out Darren Till in the main event.
As Masvidal was being interviewed backstage by Laura Sanko, Edwards heckled the Miami native from off camera, presumably in a bid to set up a future fight.
He ended up involved in one much faster than expected, however, as Masvidal calmly walked out of his interview, ambled over to the Brit and delivered the now famous “three piece and a soda” as he hit Edwards with a multi-punch combination that left “Rocky” with a cut on his cheek.
A matchup between the pair seemed an inevitability, but their careers took separate routes, with Masvidal going on to become the UFC’s first (and, seemingly, only) “BMF” champion and twice unsuccessfully challenge Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title, while Edwards continued on his winning run in a bid to land a title fight against Usman, the last man to defeat him inside the octagon.
But now, with Edwards undefeated in his last 10 outings and on the verge of a title shot, and with Masvidal looking to force himself back into the title mix once again, the pair have finally been matched and will throw down in the UFC’s final pay-per-view event of 2021.
The fight joins a packed bout list for December 11, with the fight card set to feature a pair of world title fights.
The main event will see former interim champion Dustin Poirier challenge undisputed UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, while the co-main attraction will feature the all-conquering two-division women’s champion Amanda Nunes, who will put her bantamweight title on the line against Julianna Pena.
UFC 269: Fight Card
- Charles Oliveira (c) vs. Dustin Poirier – for UFC lightweight title
- Amanda Nunes (c) vs. Julianna Pena – for UFC women’s bantamweight title
- Leon Edwards vs. Jorge Masvidal
- Dominick Cruz vs. Pedro Munhoz
- Randy Costa vs. Tony Kelley
- Cody Garbrandt vs. Kai Kara-France
- Priscila Cachoeira vs. Gillian Robertson
- Dricus Du Plessis vs. Andre Muniz
- Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell
- Ryan Hall vs. Darrick Minner
- Sean O’Malley vs. Raulian Paiva
- Maycee Barber vs. TBC