Why can’t Chael just let Leon Edwards have his flowers? Chael just can’t seem to say congratulations to the new welterweight champ and leave it be. Is Chael working the fans and the media? Or is he potentially jealous of Leons sucess in winning a championship belt? Why is Chael so “salty“, for lack of better words?
Leading up to Edwards title fight Chael repeatedly told his viewers that Leon did not deserve the title-shot and other fighters were more deserving before him, like Khamzat Chimaev. Chael also suggested that maybe he needed to do a little more trash talking in order to get into his title fight and the fans behind him. Kind of like how some say Chael talked his way into title fights. Chael’s advice, which Leon did not follow, nor needed was given to him by many other fighters and fans. This was sure to give him a Covington-esque resonance with the fans if done right. But Leon had a 9 fight win streak and there was ultimately nothing he needed to do.
Even after becoming champion of the world, Chael just cant seem to give Edwards a break. He went as far to say that he [Leon] cheated his way to a title by grabbing the fence five times. Where Kamaru is just as guilty as Leon is, as there were multiple fence grabs from each fighter.
Dana White was asked about Chaels comments at a media scrum and detailed Sonnen’s comments as “disrespectful to Leon and unfair” and “he didn’t win by grabbin’ the fence, he became champion by a headkick”. Which is a fair assesment from the President of the UFC.
Is Chael jealous because Leon did not have to do the work of talking his way into a title fight and becoming champion being “boring“? Chael was one to pre-script his pre-and-post fight interviews, always having a goal in mind to propel him further from what he said on the mic, and being entertaining while doing it. He has even talked himself (some say) into a title fight coming off a loss. Chael was still a great fighter in Bellator and the UFC, although he did never win a championship belt in his respective division. He did walk around with a championship belt. But not one that was commissioned by a professional combat sports promotion.
It has been two-and-a-half weeks after UFC 278 and Chael is still making videos about Edwards and his cheating. Is Chael jealous of Leon’s success?
MMA Loki news room staff
