Dave Lovell thinks Kamaru Usman will never be the same after getting knocked out by Leon Edwards.
Edwards (20-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) knocked Usman (20-2 MMA, 15-1 UFC) out with a perfect head kick in Round 5 to capture the welterweight title this past Saturday at UFC 278.
With Usman’s dominance over the division, Edwards’ head coach Lovell wonders if Usman can come back after getting finished in such a brutal manner.
“When a man gets knocked out cold in that fashion, let me tell you, not only can it change his fighting potentially, it can potentially change his life,” Lovell said. “And especially Kamaru’s got that bully come forward style aggression. When a bully gets tamed and gets knocked out in that fashion, physically, he can get his body back, ready to come back, but can he mentally? That’s yet to play out. Does Kamaru come back a gun-shy fighter? Can he overcome it in this short amount of time, what Dana is talking about? Me, personally, I don’t think he can.”
UFC president Dana White expressed interest in a trilogy bout between Edwards and Usman in the U.K., something Edwards is also open to. Prior to beating Usman, Edwards mentioned settling his beef with Jorge Masvidal for his first title defense, but also knew that a rubber match with Usman would also be logical, considering the ex-champ’s reign over the division.
