Leon Edwards has insisted he won't be chasing another highlight-reel knockout against Kamaru Usman in their trilogy fight.
Edwards, 31, defends his UFC welterweight title for the first time since winning against Usman when they meet for the third time at UFC 286 on March 19. 'Rocky' knocked out Usman last August with a Hail Mary head kick after losing the majority of the fight, becoming just the second British champion in UFC history after Michael Bisping first achieved the feat in 2016.
The Brit thinks the high altitude of Salt Lake City, where his second fight against Usman was held, was detrimental to his performance. Edwards is predicting a better performance from himself this time around and doesn't care how he beats Usman, as long as he leaves the octagon with the 170lb belt around his waist.
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“I can see it being a totally different fight from the second fight, it’s also about how can he come back after the knockout," Edwards said. "I can take confidence from knowing that I can take him down, hurt him and knock him out. I can see myself getting my hand raised again. I’m not going out there to chase the headshot and get another spectacular finish, it’s just about getting the win."
The last time Edwards fought in London, he was booed out of The O2 arena following a lacklustre decision win against Gunnar Nelson in 2019. It's a full-circle moment for Edwards, who will inevitably be cheered on this time as UK fans will hope to see him kickstart his reign as welterweight king. "I’ve stayed the course, it’s a full 360 from the last time I was here, now I’m the champion headlining my first UFC event in the UK. I’m proud of myself for staying the course and staying true to what I believe in," he added.
Edwards dismissed many of the top-ranked contenders at welterweight and insisted that Usman is by far his toughest opponent. Addressing future title challengers in the division, he said: “I think Usman is the hardest fight in the division, but after that nobody is standing out. There is nobody, maybe if Khamzat [Chimaev] fights someone and wins then maybe him. If [Gilbert] Burns goes out and beats Colby [Covington] then maybe him. At the moment I think everyone is one fight away from fighting for the title."
UFC 286: Edwards vs Usman 3 tickets go on sale from 10am GMT on Friday, January 27 via AXS and Ticketmaster. Fight Club members can purchase tickets early at 10:00 a.m. GMT on Wednesday, January 25, whilst those who registered their interest early in this event will gain priority access at 10a.m. GMT Thursday 26.
