UFC Singapore’s Leon Edwards believes Donald Cerrone is ‘100-percent past his prime’

Rising welterweight contender Leon Edwards will attempt to capture his sixth-straight UFC win tomorrow morning (Sat., June 23, 2018) at UFC Fight Night 132 live on Fight Pass from inside Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore, when he takes on former UFC lightweight title challenger Donald Cerrone in the main event.

Despite Cerrone dropping three out of his last four fights, “Cowboy” remains the biggest test of Edwards’ career to date. The 26-year-old Englishman has toppled respectable foe since making his Octagon debut nearly four years ago, but taking on Cerrone is a huge step up for “Rocky.”

Luckily for Edwards, he isn’t really feeling the pressure of the moment. Instead, the streaking welterweight contender believes he’s equipped to outpoint “Cowboy” wherever the fight takes place.

“He was on a three fight losing streak until he beat his last opponent. I feel he’s past his sell by date,” Edwards told MMA Weekly’s Damon Martin earlier this week. “He’s done everything he needs to do in this sport. I know he’s a tough veteran. I know he can show up sometimes. I feel I’m way better than him everywhere the fight takes place. That’s all it is. I’m going to go out there and prove I’m the better fighter and he’s not on my level.”

While Edwards remains confident in his approach to UFC Singapore, he also understands that this is a huge opportunity in his career. Not too many casual fight fans know who Edwards is or what he has accomplished through nine Octagon appearances, so competing alongside a popular fan favorite like Cerrone will only help the Englishman’s notoriety moving forward.

“He’s a huge name. He’s a veteran of the sport. He’s been around for some time now. He was in the UFC when I first started my pro career,” Edwards said. “He’s a big name. To get an opportunity to face him in Singapore is an honor for me but I’m going to put that aside.

“I’m going out there to take his head off. I’m happy he stepped up to the plate and I’m happy he gave me the opportunity but I’m going out there to take his head off.”

As for the fight itself, Edwards doesn’t believe Cerrone can bring anything to the cage that he hasn’t seen already. “Cowboy” has proved to come up in big spots in the past, especially when fight fans and opponents count him out, but the 35-year-old has arguably peaked as a professional fighter.

At least that’s what Edwards believes as the two welterweights gear up for their main event clash this weekend on Fight Pass.

“I’ve not met a welterweight yet that can out power me. For a guy that’s coming up from lightweight to welterweight, I can’t see where he’ll have an advantage,” Edwards said. “I have the size over him, the reach over him, the power over him. I feel after this fight, I’ll put on a performance and he’ll be forced to go back down to lightweight and compete against them guys.

“He’s been in many wars in his career. He’s been stopped many times. I feel he’s past his prime and I don’t feel there’s nothing he can do now that’s going to change nothing. I feel 100-percent he’s past his prime.”

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Fight Night 132 fight card, starting with the Fight Pass “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 4:30 a.m. ET, followed by the main card start time of 8 a.m. ET, also on Fight Pass.