Kamaru Usman, the UFC fighter, recently disclosed his aspiration to have a trilogy fight with Leon Edwards in the UK early next year.
The former welterweight champion who suffered a brutal head kick KO loss against ‘Rocky’ on Saturday night in Salt Lake City wishes to have a rematch with his opponent in enemy territory.
Reflecting on his last minute defeat despite being ahead on the scorecards, Usman discussed his plans for the future, mentioning his conversation with Dana White about arranging a trilogy fight early in 2023.
In his discussion with TMZ, he expressed, ‘What else makes sense (other than trilogy)? Look at the division, what else makes sense? I talked to Dana and I’ll let him do his job, we’re going to see what date makes sense, probably top of next year.
‘I was going to squeeze one in this year but it’s probably top of next year. I want to go to England. I feel like England is my second home. England is half Africa, people don’t know that. It’s time to go over there and entertain my English people, what better story.’
Usman previously defeated Edwards by decision in their first fight seven years ago, and now anticipates their highly-anticipated third meeting.
Despite the brutal defeat at UFC 278, marking the first time he had been knocked out, Usman is preparing to make a comeback from the setback.
‘There’s good hurt, when you finish a fight and know you’ve got two cheques, he reflected. ‘Then there’s the one where you just have one. Hurt is hurt. But I’m feeling good, it’s a new experience but it’s a fight, a fight is a fight.
‘I had to go to the hospital to get scanned and all of that, just the formalities and I was in and out of there. What a shot, it was a great shot, I’m talking Hail Mary in a super bowl, last 10 seconds.
Usman also shared his analytical study of their fight footage, confessing, ‘I’ve already watched the fight three or four times. It’s not hard to watch at all. I’ve done that to people. It happens. The beautiful thing is that happens but we forget what was actually taking place in that fight.
‘Everyone is more sad about it than I am, for me that’s a good think because it lets me know that people care.’
Despite their upcoming rematch, Usman emphasized that there is no animosity between him and Edwards and expressed his respect for the British fighter.
‘I’m excited for what’s next. I have a rare opportunity now to inspire and motivate, showing people you can fall and get back up. I like Leon, always have, I actually follow him on social media. I’m happy for him and in a sense he kind of reminds me of my journey.
‘It is great for his story and my story. He’s wanted to fight in London for a while and now he’s got a big one. Congratulations to Leon, it was a beautiful technique, what a wonderful Hail Mary,’ he concluded.
