Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards heads into his next bout under one of the brightest and most unforgiving spotlights of his career. After dropping his title to Belal Muhammad and suffering a submission loss to Sean Brady, Edwards now faces the uphill task of proving he's still among the elite at 170 pounds.

Muhammad, never one to hold back, gave his honest take on Edwards' current position.

"Leon, coming off of two losses in a row, is in a very tough spot... Every fight after that is still a tough fight. Every fight… one shot, one win away from getting to a title fight."

That statement came as part of ongoing discussions about Edwards' next opponent — Brazilian striker Carlos Prates. The rising contender has been making waves with his aggressive stand-up and precise timing, and many analysts see him as a serious threat to Edwards' comeback hopes.

Prates' power and length have made him a dangerous matchup for anyone in the division, and after his highlight-reel knockout win earlier this year, his confidence has never been higher. For Edwards, the challenge isn't just physical — it's mental. After back-to-back setbacks, he's fighting not just for a victory, but for validation.

The former champion has hinted that he feels more comfortable facing another striker, seeing it as an opportunity to return to his sharp kickboxing roots. But with the welterweight division as deep as ever, one mistake could derail everything he's trying to rebuild.