Fabian Edwards wants the chance to prove his doubters wrong and admits he was disappointed to be denied a clash with a top middleweight at Bellator London this weekend.

The Birmingham fighter is one of Bellator’s hottest prospect and boasts a 7-0 record that includes six stoppages, including the up-kick knockout he produced against Falco Neto Lopes last May.

Jonathan Bosuku (7-4) was selected as Edwards’ opponent for Bellator’s marquee event in London this weekend, but the 26-year-old conceded he wanted a tougher challenge.

‘I wanted somebody that people will look and think that would be a big win for me,’ Edwards told Metro.co.uk.


Edwards knocked out his last opponent with an up-kick (Picture: Bellator MMA)

‘Or even better, I want somebody that people will look at and say, “Fabian will lose to him”. I want that one. I want everyone to doubt me. I want people to think an opponent is going to crush me.



‘I’ve asked for big fights and dangerous fighters,’ he continued. ‘Guys with better records, more wins than losses. I feel like I’m ready for that now.

‘I train day in, day out with my brother Leon, who is top ten in the world. I train with a lot of guys and I hold my own. I know the level I’m at.

‘I’m at a level, but I want to prove it to people. There’s only so much you can talk and talk and talk. People just think you’re talking s***, until you go out and prove it.’

Edwards has already fought twice in 2019 and plans to fight a total of five times before the end of the year. ‘I feel like I’m fighting so much this year, my main goal is to develop my skills overall,’ he said.

Edwards aims to have five fights in 2019 (Picture: Bellator MMA)

The ‘Assassin’ showed his talents in his last fight with an instinctive strike from his back. It was a fantastic bit of improvisation, that stood out on a night of explosive knockouts in Birmingham.

‘It was stupid putting your chin there and I thought I’d take advantage. It paid off. Improvisation is important. It’s more important not to get set into one mainframe of how to fight,’ Edwards explained.

‘I think my greatest strength is my fight IQ. I don’t think anyone gives me credit for it, but I am smart when it comes to fighting. I think my fight IQ is different.

Edwards wanted a tougher opponent than Bosuku (Picture: Bellator MMA)

‘Another prospect Aaron Pico, who is a great guy and I wouldn’t say anything bad about him, but his fight IQ at the moment is not the best. He hasn’t learned how to blend.

‘He’s got a long career ahead of him and will probably be a world champion, but his fight IQ needs work. I feel that’s what I do the best. I fight smart.’

Edwards has been a mainstay in Bellator’s European Fight Series. The American promotion launched their series earlier this year in Newcastle, as they target becoming the biggest MMA force in the UK and Ireland.

Bellator London Card Channel 5 broadcast:

Gegard Mousasi (c) vs Rafael Lovato Jr

Melvin Manhoef vs Kent Kauppinen

Aaron Chalmers vs. Fred Freeman Sky Sports broadcast:

Paul Daley vs Erick Silva

James Gallagher vs Jeremiah Labiano Preliminary Card:

Fabian Edwards vs Jonathan Bosuku

Mike Shipman vs Costello van Steenis

Charlie Ward vs Justin Moore

Aligned with Channel 5 and Sky Sports, who are showing MMA for the first time on their platform, Bellator announced another TV deal this week with Virgin for Irish TV rights.



It means this weekend’s fights will be screened across Paramount in the US, Sky Sports and Channel 5 in the UK and Virgin in Ireland.

Edwards leads Bellator’s prelims and is determined to produce more fireworks against Bosuku.

‘I’m the best 7-0 fighter in the world, not Europe, the world. That’s facts, I think it’s facts,’ Edwards insisted.

Edwards is still only 7-0 (Picture: Bellator MMA)

‘Everyone’s got their opinion, but I feel that. I’m confident, young and I’ve never been touched.

‘There’s not a lot of guys who have had 18 fights in total and not even got a busted lip. I fight smart and at a distance.

‘I’m sticking to the head kick prediction. I’ve been after that knockout since my amateur debut. I’ve had everything except that, I need that head kick. I feel it will be a first-round knockout.’

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