UFC News: Ex-Champ Proposes ‘Sensational’ Title Eliminator Fight for Leon Edwards

Michael Bisping wants to keep things moving at 170lbs. 

After defending his title for a second time against Colby Covington at UFC 296 in December, UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards remains without an opponent.

Belal Muhammad was believed to be next up in line, but some doubt was cast after the UFC reportedly offered three other opponents instead of him for Edwards at UFC 300, and all of them allegedly turned down the opportunity.

While the next title fight is being sorted out (with or without Muhammad), former UFC Middleweight Champion Bisping suggests a certain matchup take place - one that has major title implications on the line. 

"Ian Machado Garry is at #6. I think you leapfrog Michael Page right up to a #6 fight with Ian Machado Garry," Bisping said on his YouTube channel (h/t: Championship Rounds). "Why? Well, they've been talking a bit of s***. Ian Garry's been talking s***.

"He's been kind of dismissing the threat of Michael Page." Bisping said. "Listen, I'd do the same thing, if he was threatened by me. You're not gonna give him much opportunity. You're gonna talk s***. You're gonna discredit me, right?" 

Bisping references a past soundbite of Ian Garry at UFC 298 media day, where the Irishman shot 'MVP' down as a potential opponent prior to his debut: "There's no f****** way he beats Kevin Holland, so no."

Well, ex-Bellator star Page would prove Garry wrong at UFC 299 with a dominant striking showcase over Holland. 

A fight between #7-ranked Garry and #13-ranked MVP doesn't seem too far from reality now and given the fact they're both from the UK, Bisping thinks it's a no-brainer that the winner faces Edwards in his own backyard.

"Michael Page and Ian Gary potentially then would get to fight Leon Edwards in a stadium in the UK. Could you imagine that? So, for all those reasons, Ian Garry, Michael Page, take my money, sign me up, I'll buy a ticket. Whether or not I'm working the event or not, I think that would be a sensational matchup."

Garry maintains a perfect 14-0 record, with half of those wins coming in the Octagon. In his last outing, 'The Future' outpointed Geoff Neal to a split decision victory at UFC 298.

Who wins the potential title eliminator? Former UFC Welterweight and Bisping's fellow countryman Dan Hardy predicts 'MVP' to take Garry's undefeated status.

"I think he has a damn good chance of beating every single one of these people," Hardy said of Page on his YouTube channel (h/t: SportsKeeda). "He smokes Ian Garry, I have no doubt about it. Ian Garry is a very good developing fighter, don't get me wrong, but he would have to use his grappling skills to win that."

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