‘I will jump straight in there!’ – Fabian Edwards ready to step in and fight Gegard Mousasi this summer after stunning Lyoto Machida win

Fabian Edwards is on standby to step in and fight Gegard Mousasi for the Bellator middleweight title should Johnny Eblen withdraw from their fight this summer.

The Birmingham contender endured a deeply frustrating 18 months where he suffered the first two defeats of his professional career, having to wait for the chance to bounce back with his next two fights postponed.

Edwards was made to wait for his chance to set the record straight but did so in stunning fashion at Bellator 281 in London last week, blasting out fight legend Lyoto Machida inside one round to underline his explosive ambition of becoming world champion.

The 29-year-old feels the opportunity to achieve that is closer than ever. One more victory should have him in the picture to challenge Mousasi, who first puts his title on the line against undefeated American Eblen on 24 June.

But any changes to that plan could see Edwards’ shot come sooner than expected.

‘If Johnny pulls out in June and Bellator come around and offer it to me I will jump straight in there,’ Edwards told Metro.co.uk.

‘I fancy my chances of beating the champion right now. Stylistically, he is the perfect match for me.’

Last week’s victory in the capital was undoubtedly the biggest of Edwards career. While Machida is 43 years old and was on a three-fight losing streak, Edwards became the first man in Bellator to stop him with the Brazilian going the distance with current and former champions in Mousasi, Phil Davis and Ryan Bader in those recent losses.

Edwards has demanded respect for his latest victory and will expect the same should he dethrone Mousasi.

‘I don’t see much of a decline in Mousasi,’ Edwards said. ‘Looking at him, he is still performing at the same levels he was in the UFC in my