Tag: Dave Lovell

Leon Edwards’ coach, Dave Lovell, breaks down potential Islam Makhachev matchup

Dave Lovell thinks Islam Makhachev would struggle with fellow UFC champion Leon Edwards’ size.

Coach [autotag]Dave Lovell[/autotag] believes UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] would struggle with [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag]’ size.

Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) has reiterated interest in moving up to challenge welterweight champ Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC). The pair trained together years ago at American Kickboxing Academy. With Edwards’ recent title defenses coming over standout wrestlers such as Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman, Lovell is confident that Edwards would be able to handle Makhachev’s grappling prowess.

“Leon’s had a feel of him already because back in the day, they were at (American Kickboxing Academy) when they basically first started out their career, and they did have a little wrestle, along with Khabib and the rest of the boys,” Lovell told Submission Radio. “So you know, Islam moving up to welter, would he be big enough? Would he have the same effect that he has at his weight now? I don’t think so. Has he met a sharpshooter like Leon? No, he hasn’t. And again, what can Islam bring to Leon? Size wise, Leon’s physically bigger than him. Outreaches him.

“So again, he’s going to resort to what he knows, which is his wrestling. So it’s just unfortunate that you look at the last guys Leon fought: Usman twice, Colby, all wrestlers. Now Belal, wrestler. Islam, he’s not known for his striking. They’re known for their wrestling, and that’s basically – Leon’s improving. People don’t understand, which is what I told Ariel Helwani in the last interview. He said to me about the wrestling with Leon, and I said that everybody just may get shocked when Leon comes out against Colby and shows Colby and Usman his quality of wrestling, and he proved it to the world.”

Edwards will look to make his third title defense when he rematches Belal Muhammad (23-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 304 headliner at Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

Like Makhachev, Edwards also has his sights set on dual-champion status, and Lovell sees that goal as attainable.

“One step at a time,” Lovell said. “But if that’s his plan, which is not a bad plan because we’ve got a few fighters that have done it and in the process of wanting to do it, so why should Leon be any different? He’s big enough that he could fill out to make a middleweight.

“I wouldn’t suggest he stays there, but if he can go up there and pick a fight where he can get a title win and then move back down to welterweight, well, that would be his dream to be fair right now. That’s his next move. But, you know, when that comes, we’ll look on obviously making that move.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.

‘Does Kamaru Usman come back a gun shy fighter?’ Dave Lovell questions how ex-champ rebounds from KO

“When a man gets knocked out cold in that fashion, let me tell you, not only can it change his fighting potentially, it can potentially change his life.”

[autotag]Dave Lovell[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] will never be the same after getting knocked out by [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag].

Edwards (20-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) knocked Usman (20-2 MMA, 15-1 UFC) out with a perfect head kick in Round 5 to capture the welterweight title this past Saturday at UFC 278.

With Usman’s dominance over the division, Edwards’ head coach Lovell wonders if Usman can come back after getting finished in such a brutal manner.

“When a man gets knocked out cold in that fashion, let me tell you, not only can it change his fighting potentially, it can potentially change his life,” Lovell said. “And especially Kamaru’s got that bully come forward style aggression. When a bully gets tamed and gets knocked out in that fashion, physically, he can get his body back, ready to come back, but can he mentally? That’s yet to play out. Does Kamaru come back a gun-shy fighter? Can he overcome it in this short amount of time, what Dana is talking about? Me, personally, I don’t think he can.”

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UFC president Dana White expressed interest in a trilogy bout between Edwards and Usman in the U.K., something Edwards is also open to. Prior to beating Usman, Edwards mentioned settling his beef with Jorge Masvidal for his first title defense, but also knew that a rubber match with Usman would also be logical, considering the ex-champ’s reign over the division.

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UFC champ Leon Edwards’ coach Dave Lovell: ‘You can stand at the back of the line, Mr. Masvidal’

“Mr. Masvidal, you little rat judas, your time will come also, but we’re picking on our terms.”

[autotag]Dave Lovell[/autotag] isn’t ready for [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] to grant [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] a title shot.

Masvidal (35-16 MMA, 12-9 UFC) and Lovell’s star pupil Edwards (20-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) have been on a collision since 2019, but now that Edwards is UFC welterweight champion and Masvidal on a three-fight skid, Lovell said Masvidal has to wait his turn.

After Edwards dethroned Kamaru Usman with a stunning head-kick knockout to claim the welterweight title at UFC 278, Masvidal called him out. Although Edwards told MMA Fighting prior to beating Usman that he’d be willing to defend his title against Masvidal, Lovell would like to give “Gamebred” a taste of his own medicine.

“Leon has been climbing the hill for a long time, as you know,” Lovell told MMA Junkie. “And he’s tried to reach the top and each time he does, he’s been knocked back, knocked back, knocked back. But now he’s climbed the top. Now he can be the one at the top of the mountain knocking back people. Well, you can stand at the back of the line, Mr. Masvidal, for starters.”

He continued, “Mr. Masvidal, you little rat Judas, your time will come also, but we’re picking on our terms. The same way you told Leon wait at the back of the line, well you wait now, mate, because Leon is at the top of the hill.”

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Edwards and Masvidal’s rivalry stems from the infamous backstage incident after both men emerged victorious at UFC London in 2019. The pair chirped at each other backstage, which led to Masvidal attacking him with a combination – the infamous “three piece and a soda.” They almost settled their rivalry when they were booked for a grudge match at UFC 269 last December, but Masvidal withdrew due to injury.

Masvidal, who allegedly assaulted Colby Covington outside a Miami Beach restaurant just weeks after he lost to him in March at UFC 272, was arrested and charged with aggravated battery and criminal mischief. His pre-trial hearing is slated for Aug. 31.

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Leon Edwards’ coach Dave Lovell recounts viral UFC 278 corner work : ‘I had to do something’

Coach Dave Lovell recalls his speech to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 that went viral after his title win.

[autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] stole the show at UFC 278, but so did his coach [autotag]Dave Lovell[/autotag].

This past Saturday, Edwards (20-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) claimed the UFC welterweight title in dramatic fashion by knocking out Kamaru Usman late in the fifth round of a fight that he was losing on the scorecards. But on top of being down on points, Edwards didn’t inspire a comeback given his work rate and body language in the cage.

Lovell knew something was wrong with Edwards, which is why a tough speech in between rounds was badly needed.

“He lost the second round, he lost the third round, and that’s when the panic started to set for me,” Lovell told MMA Junkie as he recalled what was going through his mind in between rounds at UFC 278. “I knew I had to do something. His body language – he wouldn’t look me in the eye. He was slumping in his chair. He looked dejected.

“I was like, ‘This is not you, son. What is wrong?’ I don’t know what it was, call it Godly intervention, but I had to shake this kid out of his slump. We’re in a world title fight, and you’re f*cking looking sorry for yourself. You didn’t come this far, all this work put in over the last six, seven years, to come to this country, and you’re going to bow out like a lamb? You’re content seeing this fight out without giving it your all? So I knew I had to do something, and it just rolled out that way.”

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Lovell’s corner work and talk in between rounds went viral online after the fight. It was clear his talk resonated with Edwards and helped him rally back to produce one of the biggest upsets in recent memory.

Lovell admits he’s not very familiar with social media, but did see the online reaction to his words. He’s happy that people liked it and hopes it can serve as an inspiration to others.

“Yeah, it’s got like over a million hits,” Lovell’s said. “If it inspires people, it can be a good thing. It was my inspiration to give Leon, but if people can take it, especially the youth of today can take it, that can inspire anyone in any walk of life. Stop feeling f*cking sorry for yourself and get out there and do it, then that’s great. That’s good for me. I’m happy.”

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