UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards wants to leave a mark on the sport before he finally hangs up his gloves.

The Briton, who defends his 170-pound championship against Belal Muhammad at this month’s UFC 304 in Manchester, already owns one of the longest unbeaten streaks in UFC welterweight history; something he plans on extending later this month in his rematch with top contender Muhammad.

But, in the event that he gets his hand raised, what else is there for the 32-year-old to achieve? For now, he sees two options: a shot at the middleweight (185-pound) world title, or a welterweight defence against the dominant 155-pound champ, Islam Makhachev.

“That’s my goal,” Edwards told talkSPORT ahead of his title clash on July 27. “Obviously my first goal was to achieve this [world title], and now I’ve got it. I’ve got to make another goal, what’s going to get me up in the morning to go out there and achieve what I’m trying to achieve — the numbers, the money, the pound-for-pound rankings.”

“For sure, for sure,” he added of a possible showdown with Makhachev. “I feel like we’ve both got work to do within our division. I feel Islam just fought his first actual lightweight [Poirier]. He fought Volk, but this is his first actual lightweight he’s fought within the division.”

Edwards added: “He’s on a three defence streak. After I beat Belal, that will be my third, as well, so we’re both on similar paths. I can see that happening in the future. Also, I would like to move up, as well, and challenge for the middleweight belt hopefully. I feel like I’d have the size for it and the skill for it, so why not chase greatness?”