Leon Edwards knocks out Kamaru Usman at UFC 278. Photo Viaplay
On Saturday, welterweight champion Leon ”Rocky” Edwards will stand against his rival Kamaru Usman for the third time, as the two will headline UFC 286.
Last time the pair clashed, in August 2022, Edwards turned a fairly one-sided fight into the most epic comeback as he slept Usman with a huge head kick in the last minutes of the final round.
Going into their third meeting, ”Rocky” expects his opponent to be affected by the devastating knockout loss.
“A knockout affects everyone different. He’s what now, 35, 36 years old? Coming off a knockout and fighting the same guy who’s just knocked him out, so lets see how he comes back and how he reacts,” Edwards recently told BT Sport.
As far as ”Rocky” sees it, the former champion will come out as the same fighter he always was.
“What does he change? The way he fought me last is the way he fights. I can’t see him in the space of five, six months now being a totally different fighter. I just can’t see it happening,” Edwards said.
Another factor that the welterweight champion has on his side is the loud and supportive British crowd. A crowd Usman never experienced before.
“This is my hometown show. I’ve never lost in the UK. I use the crowd as energy. I just can’t see how he goes out there and defeats me.”