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This is like the non-title version of the fight between Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk that kicked off this piece, as it’s an opportunity for Edwards to dispel any doubts about his standing as a serious contender in the welterweight division, while also affording Woodley the opportunity to prove he’s still very much a factor in the championship chase in the 170-pound ranks.
Edwards has used the UFC’s annual visit to London in March as a yearly opportunity to take another step forward in his career, having fought on the card each of the last three years, collecting wins over Vicente Luque, Peter Sobotta, and Gunnar Nelson.
Those are just three of his eight consecutive victories inside the Octagon, the last of which came against perennial contender Rafael Dos Anjos last summer. The quiet contender from Birmingham has steadily improved his grappling, always brandished good, quick hands, and has proven he can go 25 minutes at a good clip, leaving him a signature win over a former titleholder shy of being primed to challenge for championship gold.
When he steps into the cage in London, it will have been 385 days since Woodley last competed. That night, he entered the Octagon as the defending welterweight champion and this time around, he’ll be looking to prove that he’s still one of the top talents in the 170-pound ranks. “The Chosen One” turns 38 next month and while he hasn’t been in too many major wars during his 10-year, 24-fight career, Father Time eventually catches up to everyone and that’s just one more question Woodley is going to have to answer when he returns to action against the streaking Edwards.
Much like the lightweight division, things are kind of unsettled and uncertain at the top of the welterweight division for the moment, so while the victor here will have a very good case for a title shot in the second half of 2020, this is more of a “seat at the table” fight similar to the Lee-Oliveira clash the week before than a true title eliminator.