Report: UFC eyes Edwards vs. Della Maddalena for London event

The UFC is looking to book former welterweight champion Leon Edwards against rising contender Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of Fight Night in London on March 22, MMA Fighting's Damon Martin reports.

Edwards hasn't competed since dropping the 170-pound title to Belal Muhammad in July. He successfully defended the championship twice before giving it up, defeating Kamaru Usman in a trilogy bout and dispatching Colby Covington.

Della Maddalena has been out of action since March 2024 when he defeated Gilbert Burns with a third-round knockout. The result catapulted the Australian fighter into title contention but a broken arm delayed his return to the Octagon.

Edwards, 33, has become one of the UFC's marquee English fighters since he became champion with an all-time knockout of Usman in 2022. He's ranked No. 1 among contenders in the welterweight division, while his proposed opponent sits at No. 4.

Edwards had gone 13 consecutive bouts without a defeat prior to the Muhammad loss. Della Maddalena is on a 17-fight winning streak after beginning his professional career with back-to-back losses.