While Kamaru
Usman may have been moments away from retaining the
welterweight title against Leon
Edwards at UFC 278, those waning moments of their August bout
turned out to be quite significant indeed.
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Edwards authored one of the biggest upsets of 2022 when he knocked
Usman out with a head kick 4:04 into the fifth round of their
headlining bout in Salt Lake City, Utah, saving himself from a
decision defeat in the process. Since then, Usman has been somewhat
dismissive of Edwards while pointing to the fact that he was well
ahead on the scorecards prior to the finish.
Edwards understands the logic, but it still doesn’t take away the
end result.
“I think when you get knocked out like that, he has to find
something to clutch on to,” Edwards said during a media day ahead
of UFC 286. “He needs to build the confidence back up because going
into it, he thought he could never be taken down, he could never be
hurt or knocked out.
“He was winning the fight, but who cares? It goes down as you
getting an out-cold head shot and that’s all that matters. When
it’s all said and done, winners win. Even on my worst day, my worst
performance, I still knocked you out.”
Edwards and Usman will square off for a third time in the UFC 286
headliner at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday. While Usman is a
betting favorite, there is some concern as to how “The Nigerian
Nightmare” will rebound from the first knockout loss of his
career.
“That’s the question. He’s 36 years old, been in many tough fights
… To be sparked like that does have a mental failure,” Edwards
said. “I know he pretends like he doesn’t care and he’s happy he
got knocked out because the pressure of [being a] champion is too
hard. For me it doesn’t make any sense. We’ll see on Saturday night
whether it makes a difference, but you best believe I’m going to
try to knock him out again.”
Edwards expects to find motivation from the home crowd as he
attempts to extend his UFC unbeaten streak to 12 fights.
“Just go out there and show out, show off. That’s my aim,” he said.
“This fight is to show my abilities and just perform to the best of
my abilities. I’ve never lost in the UK. I always draw energy from
being around my friends, my family. It’s going to be a great
performance.”