Kamaru Usman accepts to challenge Leon Edwards in England
by Oviri Kelvin, Sports Editor, Abuja
Former pound-for-pound welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, has accepted a challenge that results in a trilogy with Leon Edwards in England for the UFC 278 rematch.
Usman on Saturday, August 5, 2022, lost the title to Edwards just a few seconds to end the final round, was struck with a powerful kick that knocked him out completely.
The 35 years old Nigerian was rushed to the hospital but recuperated quickly to brush off any insinuation he was badly injured.
However, the organisers of the championship are inclined towards completing a trilogy and have picked England as the venue where Edwards will have to defend the title before Usman.
Dana White, the UFC President, added that the first title defence for Edwards will take place in England.
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Following the above resolution, Usman has accepted that challenge that will see him compete with the Brit, adding that the country is a home to many Africans.
“I wanna go to England. I feel like England is my second home. You know, England is half African, people don’t know that,” Usman told the media.
“It’s time to go over there and entertain my English people,” he assured. Edwards, the reigning UFC 278 welterweight champion, who turned his imminent defeat to victory within a pace of seconds, is prepared to defend his title in Wembley, England.
While Edwards acknowledged the opportunity to fight in Wembley, praising the UK Mixed Martial Art for being on the rise, his team is confident that the champion will defeat Usman in the third round.
“To have the opportunity to headline a card at Wembley in the UK, in a sold-out arena, with all the other UK guys would be amazing,” he said.
“UK MMA is on the rise and I’m happy to now be the front runner and to motivate the guys and show them that we can do more,” Edwards added.
Responding to claims by Edwards team that he will fall in the third round, Usman said the UFC champion dished out his best performance while he performed his worst.
“That was his best performance, that was the best he had to offer,” Usman said.
“And that was the worst I had to offer. So if we do have a rematch, it’ll be a totally different story,” Usman added.
Usman first defeated Edwards in 2015 in a unanimous decision but was handed a revenge that knocked him out.
