Edwards calls out Diaz following Chimaev fight withdrawal
Leon Edwards wants to fight Nate Diaz on March 13.
Leon Edwards is determined to fight on March 13 despite Khamzat Chimaev pulling out of their latest welterweight booking at UFC Fight Night 187, calling for a short notice fight bout with Stockton slugger Nate Diaz.
Edwards called out Diaz in response to Ariel Helwani’s Tweet about ‘Rocky’ wanting to fight Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington, or Diaz as a replacement fighter, seemingly preferring a scrap with the latter.
Nate just dribbled for an hour about wanting to fight at 170 against winners... let’s see it then @NateDiaz209. 8 fight win streak and #3 in the world. Let’s go if you still think you're a real one https://t.co/PUaPfwtRPQ
— Leon 'Rocky' Edwards (@Leon_edwardsmma) February 12, 2021
“Nate just dribbled for an hour about wanting to fight at 170 against winners... let’s see it then @NateDiaz209. 8 fight win streak and #3 in the world. Let’s go if you still think you’re a real one,” Edwards wrote on Friday.
This is now the third time Edwards vs. Chimaev has been cancelled, and the second time ‘Borz’ has pulled out of the matchup due to COVID-19.
ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reports that Chimaev is still suffering with ‘lingering physical effects’ from the virus and will not be able to compete at UFC Fight Night 187.
Diaz, who seems to be Edwards’ No. 1 pick, hasn’t fought since his TKO loss to Jorge Masvidal in 2019 and is expected to return to the octagon later this year, although The Ultimate Fighter 15 winner is unlikely to fight on such short notice.
UFC Fight Night 187, which was expected to feature Edwards vs. Chimaev as the main event, will take place on March 13 at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.