MMA: Nigerian Kumaru Usman in reconquest against Englishman Leon Edwards
Clarification fight between Nigerian Kamaru Usman (left) and British Leon Edwards, this Saturday, March 18. Zuffa LLC via Getty Images - Josh Hedges
Text by: Ndiasse Sambe Follow
3 min
Dispossessed of his title of world champion of welterweight last August, the Nigerian fighter Kamaru Usman has the opportunity to take his revenge, and the belt, against Leon Edwards this Saturday, March 18. This will be the third clash between the two, and it promises sparks.
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The triology" is the very evocative title chosen by the UFC to promote the fight between Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards. The third act of this confrontation, about to become part of the legend of MMA, makes all followers salivate. And there is something for this face-to-face that will be the beautiful between two fighters who each display a victory against the other. Usman defeated Edward in December 2015, and Edward won on August 20.
For Kamaru Usman, this last fight looked like a bad dream for the one who is aptly nicknamed the "Nigerian nightmare". The reigning UFC welterweight champion, remaining on 15 consecutive wins, Usman was headed for a 16th win after dominating Edwards in the first four rounds. But in the final round, the Briton sent a high kick from the left onto the head of Kamaru Usman who collapsed. KO!
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This left kick is one of his main weapons, whether to hit the body or the head, decrypts Kamaru Usman today. He had trained for that shot and I just gave him the opportunity to touch myself with it. If you mean it was luck, you can, but it's a great shot he sent. Even I, when I saw it, I thought it was beautiful. My job is to go back, correct those mistakes and make sure it doesn't happen again."
🔥 THE SEISM, THE THUNDERCLAP!!!!!
⚡️ EDWARDS KNOCKS OUT USMAN WITH AN INCREDIBLE KICK! IT IS HISTORIC. Stupor in Utah.
🔥 It's remarkable, EDWARS IS THE NEW WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION! #UFC278 pic.twitter.com/Dv4ccMR59g
— RMC Sport Combat (@RMCSportCombat) August 21, 2022
On the eve of this clarification fight, the Nigerian fighter presents himself as "the old and very soon the new welterweight world champion." The native of Auchi, Nigeria confided, more than a year ago on RFI, wanting to become the "best fighter in history". "I get up every day, I train every day, I give everything every day to achieve this goal. I will not stop until I have succeeded, "had hammered the one that could be seen as the (future?) Goat as well as Jones Jones. But that was before his loss to Edwards.
The Jamaican-born Briton, saved from delinquency by his practice of mixed martial arts, admits that his surprise victory seven months ago changed his career. "When you set a goal and you reach it, for anyone in any situation, it's a great moment," Edwards said this week. And the way I did it, knocking out the so-called number 1 pound-for-pound, it was fantastic."
The fight will take place this Saturday, March 18 at the "O2 Arena" in London (United Kingdom) from 19:30 GMT.
THE HYPE IS REAL! 🔥 D-2 ⏳
The end of the Leon Edwards 🆚 Kamaru Usman trilogy. Who will leave with the belt? 🏆 #UFC286 pic.twitter.com/vF4CveyVSL
— La Sueur (@LaSueur_off) March 16, 2023
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