Leon Edwards once embraced Conor McGregor's challenge for welterweight title: "As the king, I welcome all challengers"

Last year, Leon Edwards was still the newly minted UFC welterweight champion, whose title was thereafter in Conor McGregor's sights. Despite having the great Kamaru Usman as a title challenger at the time, 'Rocky' welcomed the opportunity to face 'The Notorious.'

The revelation was made at the UFC 286 pre-fight press conference, where both Edwards and Usman were open to fighting McGregor. Given how lucrative a bout with the Irishman is for everyone, and the star power anyone who beats him enjoys, with Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz being chief examples.

So, when asked about facing McGregor, Edwards only had one answer.

"As the king, I welcome all challenges, you know? So, whoever comes, gets it."

Usman, the former welterweight champion, who envisioned recapturing his title (and still does), echoed Edwards' answer.

"I've always said I welcome it. So, if it happens, it happens."

Check out Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman welcoming a fight with Conor McGregor (6:15):

However, the bout with McGregor never materialized for either man. Edwards defended his welterweight title against Usman in their trilogy, defeating him via majority decision. Afterward, 'Rocky' defended his title against Colby Covington, beating him via unanimous decision.

Meanwhile, Usman's next and most recent was a middleweight outing at UFC 294, where he faced unbeaten Chechen, Khamzat Chimaev. Despite his best efforts, 'The Nigerian Nightmare' lost a majority decision to 'Borz,' and has since called for a rematch, before refocusing himself on the welterweight division.

For now, 'The Notorious' will face Michael Chandler at a later date in the year at an as-of-yet unspecified event.

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Leon Edwards once dismissed a claim that Conor McGregor would receive a title shot before him

After authoring a 10-fight unbeaten streak, Leon Edwards earned a title shot against the then welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. However, right before the matchup, Chael Sonnen claimed that Conor McGregor was in the running for a welterweight title shot instead, causing 'Rocky' to laugh off the claims.

"Chael what the f*** you on about"

Ultimately, Edwards went on to face Usman, who he knocked out with a thunderous head kick in an all-time great comeback at UFC 278, enthroning himself as the 170-pound champion.