Leon Edwards (20-3-0) shocked the mixed martial arts community and delivered what ESPN referred to as ‘perhaps the greatest comeback KO in UFC history’ when he erased a 3-1 deficit on the judges’ scorecards with a single high kick that knocked then-welterweight champion and alleged ‘greatest of all time’ candidate Kamaru Usman (20-2-0) out in the fifth round of Saturday’s UFC 278 main event.
Usman, who defeated his British opponent when they first met in 2015, is already thinking about the final act of this trilogy of fights.
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As Farah Hannoun noted for MMA Junkie, Usman spoke exclusively with TMZ Sports about potentially facing Edwards at Wembley Stadium in London for the title at some point in early 2023.
“What else makes sense? I mean, look at the division,” Usman explained. “No, it’s absolutely what’s gonna happen next. I’ve talked to (UFC president) Dana (White), and we’re gonna see. I’ll let him do his job, and we’re gonna see what date makes sense. It’s gonna be top of next year. I was gonna try and squeeze one in this year, but it’ll probably be the top of next year, and I want to go to England.
“I’ve been feening to go to England. I feel like England is my second home now, and England is half Africa. People don’t know that, but it’s half Africa, so it’s time to go over there and entertain my English people, and what better story? You couldn’t write this any better. So I’m excited to see what’s next, and we will definitely figure something out.”
Usman was seemingly less than 60 seconds away from winning his 16th straight UFC matchup before Edwards connected on a kick heard around the combat-sports world.
“It was a great shot,” Usman admitted. “A great shot. I’m talking Hail Mary in the Super Bowl, last 10 seconds, that was a great shot. Hats off to Leon.”
Per Jesse Holland of MMA Mania, Usman opened as a heavy -350 betting favourite for a future third bout versus Edwards. Edwards, meanwhile, started the workweek as a +285 underdog.
