UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards expects Kamaru Usman he was affected by his knockout loss in their last meeting.
Edwards (20-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) deposed by Uthman by a stunning 5th-round knockout at UFC 278 last August to claim the 170-pound title. With their 1-1 record, the pair headline Saturday’s UFC 286 at The O2 in London for the third time.
Usman (20-2 MMA, 15-1 UFC) was up 3-1 on the scorecards and had a big hit in the fight before Edwards rallied and scored a last-minute goal. But Edwards thinks Usman will be affected by his first-ever knockout loss.
“That’s right, the fight was running its course for him,” Edwards said. bt sport. “What is he changing? As he fought me the last time, so he fights. I can’t imagine him being a completely different fighter in five or six months. I just don’t see how it happens. …
“Knockout affects everyone differently. How old is he now, 35, 36 years old? Get out of the knockout and fight the same guy who just knocked him out, so let’s see how he comes back and how he reacts.”
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Edwards also pointed to the fact that Usman would be in enemy territory when he tried to regain the welterweight title – another unfamiliar feeling.
“This will be his first fight in someone’s backyard,” Edwards said. “This is my hometown show. I have never lost in the UK. I use the crowd as energy. I just don’t see him coming out and beating me.”
UFC 286 will take place on Saturday at The O2 in London. The main card airs on pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
To learn more about the card, visit the MMA Junkie event center to UFC 286.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
