Cormier: 'I believe people will respect Edwards over time'

Legendary former UFC champion in two weight classes Daniel Cormier spoke about what steps the title holder in the welterweight division needs to take Leon Edwardsto become the promotion's new star.

“People need to respect him and I believe that will happen over time. But what worries me is that there are no big names among his possible opponents. And if fans don’t consider him a star now, then victories over Rakhmonov and Muhammad will no longer help Edwards in this regard.

These fighters are much less famous than Usman, Covington and Nate Diaz. When you fight these guys, you take away some of their glory. Their popularity must become yours if you want to become someone who knows how to sell paid streams. To rise to the next level and become a star, Leon needs to win spectacularly against his closest opponents. “He should make us wait for his performances,” Cormier quotes MMA News.

Let us remember that on December 16 at UFC 296, Edwards made his second defense of the belt, defeating Colby Covington on points.