Edwards: I want Masvidal in London after I win UFC title

Leon Edwards still needs to beat Kamaru Usman in August to become the UFC welterweight champion, but he already has an opponent in mind for his first title defense: Jorge Masvidal.

"When I win the belt, I'll give him the title shot," Edwards told "The MMA Hour" on Monday. "That would be a fantastic fight in the U.K. Bring it back to The O2 ... for the title. That's what I want to do next."

"I think that would be a great pay-per-view seller, and (it has) a great backstory to it," he added.

The welterweight contenders got into their infamous backstage scuffle - the three-piece-and-a-soda moment - at The O2 Arena in London following a UFC event in 2019.

Edwards, who lives in Birmingham, England, said a main-event bout at The O2 would be a "dream scenario."

"I've never had the opportunity to headline London," Edwards said. "First, I was meant to do it on (Tyron) Woodley, and then that got canceled because of COVID."

Though Edwards is eyeing Masvidal, the Brit said the UFC will likely want a trilogy bout with Usman if he wins the title. The two first met in 2015, before either were contenders. Usman won by unanimous decision.

"I believe that's going to happen. ... I'll beat (Usman) in August, and they'll probably want a rematch at the end of the year," Edwards said.

Edwards and Masvidal were booked to meet at UFC 269 last December, but the latter withdrew due to an injury. Masvidal has lost three in a row, including two title fights against Usman.

Unbeaten since 2015, Edwards is scheduled to finally challenge Usman for the title in the UFC 278 main event Aug. 20 in Salt Lake City.