Edwards claims Masvidal turned down fight

Don't expect a matchup between UFC welterweights Leon Edwards and Jorge Masvidal anytime soon.

Edwards told MMAJunkie's Farah Hannoun that Masvidal recently turned down a fight with him despite the UFC being on board.

"I spoke to the UFC. They want the fight. I want the fight. But Masvidal is turning the fight down," Edwards said. "They say he doesn't want the fight, so I don't know. I'm just here. I'll be ready to go at the end of the year and hopefully get one of those fights."

Edwards (18-3) picked up his eighth straight victory last month after defeating former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on ESPN 4. The 27-year-old has gone 10-1 in his last 11 fights, with his lone loss coming against current welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in December 2015.

Masvidal (34-13) is coming off one of the most impressive knockouts in UFC history after finishing previously undefeated welterweight Ben Askren in five seconds at UFC 239. "Gamebread" has won back-to-back fights by knockout and currently sits third in the top 15 of the UFC's welterweight rankings.

The 34-year-old Masvidal has said he only wants to fight for the welterweight title or in a big-money bout against a fighter like former two-division champion Conor McGregor. Edwards, for his part, thinks his resume stacks up well against Masvidal's.

"I just don't see where he gets the nerve to be demanding, making demands on what he wants," Edwards added. "He's 2-2 in his last four fights and I'm 8-0 in my last eight fights, second-most to the champion. So I feel I should be ahead of him, anyway, in the title-shot contention. But I'm still willing to put my 8-0 up against his 2-2 to prove who’s the No. 1."

Both Edwards and Masvidal are currently without opponents after White announced that Colby Covington would get the next shot at Usman's welterweight title.