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Kamaru Usman's recent loss to Leon Edwards in the UFC 286 welterweight championship fight has been analyzed by renowned boxing trainer and commentator Teddy Atlas.
In a recent episode of THE Fight with Teddy Atlas podcast, Atlas shared his insights on the fight, particularly on how Usman's previous knockout loss to Edwards affected his performance and mindset in the trilogy fight.
According to Atlas, both Usman and Edwards were evenly matched in terms of physical strength and technical skills. However, the key difference between them was their belief and confidence. In their first encounter at UFC 278, Usman believed he was the better fighter, which gave him an edge over Edwards. But in the trilogy fight, Usman lost the "cloak of invincibility" that he once had, after being knocked out by Edwards in their previous bout.
Atlas explained that losing a fight, especially by knockout, can greatly affect a fighter's confidence and perception in the eyes of their opponents. Usman's aura of invincibility was shattered after his knockout loss, and this affected not only his own mindset but also how his opponents viewed him.
"Losing and especially getting knocked out, when you are the king... the way Usman was knocked out, that takes away that aura of invincibility. And I think that that was at play here, I really do...Usman getting that cloak of invincibility that was about him, that was gone... It not only affects you how you feel, but it affects opponents, how they feel, they don't look at you the same. "
Edwards, on the other hand, gained more confidence from his previous win and successfully defended his title against Usman in the trilogy fight. Atlas commended Edwards for his performance and highlighted the importance of confidence in the fighter's success.
Check out Teddy Atlas give his take on Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards 3 in the video below [58:25 mark]:
Teddy Atlas explains how Leon Edwards' recent title defense will have a significant impact on 'Rocky's mental game in the future
Speaking on the same episode of his podcast, Teddy Atlas also drew upon the wisdom of legendary boxing trainer Cus D'Amato.
Atlas explained that D'Amato used to tell him that winning a title could improve a fighter's performance by 30%, due to the mental boost it provides. He added that while this may not be true for every fighter, it often is. In Leon Edwards' case, Atlas believes that winning the title has given him a sense of legitimacy and confidence in his abilities.
"Winning the title gives legitimacy in the mind of the guy who wins, in this case, Edwards. It just gives legitimacy in his mind of things he was not sure of before."
Edwards won the UFC welterweight championship by defeating Usman in their second bout. This victory marked a significant milestone in his career and earned him recognition as one of the top fighters in the division. According to Atlas, this achievement will have a significant impact on Leon Edwards' mental game and will improve his overall performance.
