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The upcoming UFC 286 sets the stage for the highly anticipated welterweight title rematch between Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards, and it looks like 'The Nigerian Nightmare' has been gearing up for this day ever since he got knocked out by Edwards in 2022.
At UFC 278, Usman was mere moments away from winning on points when he fell prey to a last-round head-kick knockout from 'Rocky'. However, it seems the 35-year-old was not in the least shaken by the brutal loss.
A recent Twitter post by his manager Ali Abdelaziz showed 'The Nigerian Nightmare' shadowboxing in his hospital room an hour after the loss against Edwards. In the caption, the Dominance MMA CEO stated his confidence in his client's ability to regain his title:
"Back in August, while they were celebrating their victory, the preparation to gain it all back started an hour after the fight. It’s going to be a great show in London. #AndNew."
The video shows Usman shadowboxing in his hospital robes, constantly reminding himself to keep his hands up to avoid such unfortunate losses in the future.
The Nigerian-born American is 20-2 as a professional. Before his loss to Edwards, Usman boasted a 15-fight win streak in the UFC, one win shy of Anderson Silva's legendary 16-fight unbeaten run in the promotion. Leon Edwards, on the other hand, is currently on an 11-fight undefeated streak. He holds an enviable record of 20-3 with one no-contest.
Leon Edwards suggests that he has a better ground game than Kamaru Usman
UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards believes that he is better than Kamaru Usman on the ground. During a media event in the lead-up to UFC 286, 'Rocky' claimed that it is easy to take Usman's back once he touches the ground:
"I went out there [and] took him down. [He had] never been taken down before. They said he can't be taken down, [I] took him down. Once [we] hit the mat, I know I'm much better than him. It's easy to take his back and everything."
Catch Leon Edwards' comments about Kamaru Usman below:
Despite the welterweight champion's belief in his grappling prowess, his past fights with 'The Nigerian Nightmare' tell a different tale. Kamaru Usman dominated Edwards on the ground in both of their past meetings. Even at UFC 278, where Usman lost, he boasted a total control time of 10:36 minutes.
Fans won't have to wait long to find out whether 'Rocky's' claims are true. UFC 286 will take place on Saturday, March 18, at the O2 Arena in London. The main card for the event will start at 5 PM ET and can be streamed live on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
