• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Leon Edwards says he's ready to 'open the door' for Kamaru Usman's retirement from the UFC

Home> MMA

Updated 00:28 16 Mar 2023 GMTPublished 00:29 16 Mar 2023 GMT

Leon Edwards says he's ready to 'open the door' for Kamaru Usman's retirement from the UFC

The Englishman believes that a similar loss could to the one at UFC 278 will have the Nigerian thinking about retirement.

Jayden Collins

Jayden Collins

Leon Edwards is convinced he’ll be the one to send Kamaru Usman to his retirement in the UFC.

The highly anticipated third bout between the two welterweight stars headlines the UFC 286 event at The 02 in London this weekend.

Their second bout produced perhaps the biggest upset in UFC history as the Englishman broke the former champ's undefeated streak in the promotion.

It all looked to be over for Edwards with the bout heading to a decision and Usman clearly in the lead.

However, in a Rocky-like moment, the Birmingham native pulled out a left kick that sent shockwaves through the UFC to capture the welterweight title.

Advert

Edwards believes that victory at UFC 278 would have severely impacted Usman’s mental strength.

He believes that a similar loss could have the Nigerian thinking about retirement.

Edwards was asked about Kamaru Usman dressing like Terry Crews at the UFC 286 media day, which left him spitting out out his water and in hysterics.

However, he says his fashion choices reflected the place Usman was at in his career.

Advert

Edwards told reporters as per MMA Junkie: “Our mentalities are in two different places.

“I feel like he’s on his way out, and I was going to open the door for him – give him another path to follow his fashion dreams and follow wherever he wants to go.

“I think he’s already got one – something’s out the door and I was going to add to that. Whether he retires after or not, it’s up to him.”

Edwards was down 3-1 on the judges’ scorecards before throwing the kick out of nowhere and knocking the then-champion out.

Advert

The Englishman looked fatigued toward the end, however, claims he never felt hurt.

He continued: “I know Kamaru – he’s using that as, ‘Oh yeah, he was tired in the fight.’ Whether I was tired or not, you got knocked out – and that’s it.

“So at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.

“Even though I was tired, he couldn’t hurt me. I wasn’t hurt, really – it was more a fatigue issue. He was wailing at my gloves and I was catching it all on my gloves.

Advert

“Even on my worst day, I defeated him. He’s improved from when we’ve first fought, but so have I.”

Leon Edwards defends the welterweight championship against Kamaru Usman in front of his home nation at UFC 286.

Featured Image Credit: Px Images / Alamy.

Topics: UFC, MMA, Leon Edwards, Kamaru Usman

Jayden Collins
Jayden Collins

Jayden Collins is a Journalist at SPORTbible. He has worked across multiple media platforms in areas such as sport, music, pop culture, entertainment and politics. He is part of the editorial team for LADbible Australia.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

7 hours ago
10 hours ago
a day ago
2 days ago
  • 7 hours ago

    Conor McGregor explained why he hasn't married Dee Devlin despite being together for 16 years

    The former two-weight UFC champion has been engaged to Devlin since 2020, but they have yet to tie the knot.

    MMA
  • 10 hours ago

    Conor McGregor breaks silence after he's spotted 'kissing mystery woman' as partner Dee Devlin speaks out

    The former two-weight UFC champion appears to once again be in the news for reasons other than fighting.

    MMA
  • a day ago

    Derrick Lewis stuns UFC fans with comment to his wife seconds after beating Tallison Teixeira in 35 seconds

    Lewis took his professional record to 29-12 with victory over Teixeira.

    MMA
  • 2 days ago

    Ben Askren reveals heartbreaking journal entry as former UFC star provides new health update following lung transplant

    The ex-UFC star has given an update on his health.

    MMA
  • Leon Edwards' coach makes huge claim about UFC 304 defeat and it changes everything
  • Belal Muhammad stuns Leon Edwards to win UFC welterweight title at UFC 304
  • Footage of Leon Edwards' coach losing his mind before the final round at UFC 304 goes viral
  • Belal Muhammad mocks British UFC fans after beating Leon Edwards and gives savage response to rematch question