### Michael Bisping Advocates for Leon Edwards' Return at UFC 310

Former middleweight champion Michael Bisping has publicly expressed his desire to see a return of former welterweight champion Leon Edwards at the upcoming UFC 310 event. Edwards has been somewhat sidelined in discussions since losing his title to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in July. With current welterweight champion Muhammad out of action due to a severe bone infection, Bisping sees an opportunity for Edwards to step back into the spotlight.

Belal Muhammad was scheduled to make his first title defense against the formidable 18-0 contender Shavkat Rakhmonov on December 7 in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, Muhammad's medical condition, which resulted in a swollen toe from a bone infection, has forced him out of the match. With Rakhmonov still eager to compete, the search for a new opponent is on.

During an exclusive interview with BloodyElbow.com, Bisping, who now works as a pundit for TNT Sports, suggested, "There's also another guy and it’s probably too short notice for Leon Edwards. He's been forgotten in all of this conversation. If you're Leon Edwards, you step in, you fight Shavkat Rakhmonov, 18-0, all finishes. That’s a compelling fight; it would sell a lot of pay-per-views."

Despite the short notice of about four or five weeks, Bisping believes the matchup between Leon Edwards and Shavkat Rakhmonov could reignite interest in Edwards' career and potentially set up a rematch with Belal Muhammad.

However, Rakhmonov himself seems to prefer a fight with another top contender, Kamaru Usman, and has indicated a willingness to fight for an interim title. "I believe Usman is a worthy opponent who's going to be ready to jump in to face me," Rakhmonov told Ariel Helwani.

Rakhmonov's manager, Sayat Abdrakhmanov, confirmed that negotiations are underway and hinted that Kamaru Usman may have been offered the fight. The current uncertainty lies in whether an interim title will be created, as Muhammad claims he will need only six weeks to recover. Rakhmonov remains skeptical, citing past instances where similar injuries took longer to heal.

In conclusion, while the UFC is yet to finalize Muhammad's replacement, Michael Bisping's endorsement of Leon Edwards adds an interesting twist. Whether it will be Edwards or Usman stepping in to face the undefeated Rakhmonov, UFC 310 promises to deliver a thrilling end to the year’s pay-per-view events.