Michael Bisping suggests Ian Machado Garry for Leon Edwards after UFC Combat Evening 255 loss

Michael Bisping needs to see Leon Edwards matched with a fellow striker after UFC Combat Evening 255.

Edwards (22-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) suffered his second-straight loss when he was submitted by Sean Brady in Saturday’s main event at The O2 in London. The loss marked the primary time Edwards was stopped in his profession.

Former welterweight champion Edwards’ previous 5 fights have been towards elite grapplers. He initially was scheduled to face Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Combat Evening 255 earlier than Della Maddalena was pulled and changed by Brady. Bisping likes the thought of an England vs. Eire matchup between Edwards and Ian Machado Garry (15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC).

“I just like the Ian Garry matchup as a result of I believe Leon deserves to go on the market and struggle somebody that’s going to present him a stylistically favorable matchup,” Bisping instructed TNT Sports of Edwards. “I don’t imply a winnable struggle, however not a nightmare situation the place one other man is making an attempt to take him down. Give him like what Jack (Della Maddalena) would have been. I believe the most important opponent for Leon Edwards now although goes to be himself. What’s happening in (his head)? Does he settle for that, ‘OK, I used to be simply crushed by two actually high-level grapplers, perhaps the 2 greatest grapplers within the division, and I’m nonetheless (33) years previous, I haven’t slowed down, I haven’t received accidents, I’m not riddled with arthritis.’

“Does he have the power to say, ‘Maintain on a minute. I’m going to rebuild myself.’ Or does he succumb to the self doubt, as a result of that begins to creep in now. You assume, ‘Effectively, I’ve earned some huge cash, I’ve grow to be the champion, I’ve traveled everywhere in the world, I’m arrange financially for all times. I’m a child from Birmingham who comes from nothing.’ As a result of the hazard of permitting that mindset to come back in may be very, very simple, considering I’ve had my time within the solar. That’s going to be the most important struggle, as a result of if he doesn’t try this, if he can look previous that, I nonetheless see a world the place Leon Edwards might probably be in within the title combine once more. Granted, he’s going to want not less than three wins, however he’s received to begin getting some wins and ending some individuals if these conversations are going to begin once more.”

In his most up-to-date outing, Machado Garry suffered his first profession loss when he dropped a unanimous decision to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310.

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC Fight Night 255.