Bellator middleweight Fabian Edwards shook off a pair of losses recently, getting back in the win column against a legend of the sport in Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida.
Now, the brother of UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards has his sights set on a shot at gold, though he’ll first have to contend with Irish vet Charlie Ward at Saturday’s Bellator 287.
The key to securing a title shot this weekend? That, said Edwards (10-2) during Wednesday’s Bellator 287 media day, is “going out on Saturday and just going what I do. Going out there and slogging and doing what I do. I think that’s going to get me a title fight. Because,” added the 29-year old, “who else? That’s the question, is who else should fight for a title? [Gegard] Mousasi just got dominated. Everyone below, he beat one or two of them, so it wouldn’t make sense, skipping me.”
Mousasi did in fact take a one-sided loss against new champ Johnny Eblen over the summer. Still, Edwards himself is just one fight removed from back-to-back losses to Costello van Steenis and Austin Vanderford.
“I learned from them, and yeah, I proved I came back stronger,” Edwards replied when asked about his rebound from those setbacks. “On Saturday, you’re definitely going to see the best version of myself. More mature, more skilled.”
This time out, the #2-ranked Edwards gets SBG Ireland’s Ward, a running buddy of Conor McGregor. Ward keeps finding ways to win, but at 41, likely isn’t long for the sport. Regardless, Edwards believes his co-main event opponent can still hang with him.
“Like you said he’s on a win streak, right? So if he’s on a win streak, and he’s still with the promotion, why can’t he? Why can’t he compete with me? It’s the same again, people are going to say what they want to say. But Charlie’s on a win streak, so I’m looking to go in there and snap that win streak.”
Watch the full Bellator 287 media day appearance by Fabian Edwards above. The event takes place this Saturday, October 29, 2022 at the Allianz Cloud Arena in Milan, Italy.
