Kamaru Usman favors Leon Edwards over Jorge Masvidal as next contender after UFC 245

LAS VEGAS – Kamaru Usman is willing to fight the next best contender after defending his welterweight title against Colby Covington at UFC 245.

However, it doesn’t appear he thinks Jorge Masvidal (35-13 MMA, 12-6 UFC) is the most deserving man.

Usman (16-1 MMA, 11-0 UFC) achieved the first defense of his 170-pound title reign Saturday when he stopped Covington (15-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) by fifth-round TKO in the event headliner, which took place at T-Mobile Arena. As with any champion, questions immediately surfaced about what’s next after a big win.

Masvidal is arguably the 2019 “Fighter of the Year,” but despite that, Usman pointed to Leon Edwards (18-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) as a more worthy foe.

“There’s a lot of tough guys in the division – a lot, a lot of tough guys,” Usman told reporters at the UFC 245 post-fight news conference. “I mean, let’s be honest: If you’re talking about someone who is deserving, Leon Edwards hasn’t lost since he fought me. He’s been finishing guys and he’s now found myself in a position that I found myself in a little over a year ago, is everyone knew I was one of the toughest guys in the division and they didn’t want to take that gamble and risk on me.”

UFC president Dana White said post-fight at UFC 245 that he thinks Usman vs. Masvidal would be a “massive” matchup, but did not commit to anything. Usman said he ultimately won’t decline any matchup the promotion gives him, but he certainly did not echo White’s sentiments about Masvidal.

“Right now I’m sitting above and looking at all these guys and they’re kind of, you know, all in that pool – all very tightly contested,” Usman said. “They just need to break out, and I’m waiting for whoever Dana and the organization feel is next for me and I’ll be happy. I’ll never turn down a fight, and especially now. I’m the champion. If they said this is the next guy, then hey, this is the next guy. But I need to go home. I need the love of my daughter. This has taken a lot.”