Kamaru Usman is ready to visit Leon Edwards’ home turf to get his belt back.
After a 15-0 UFC start and five title defenses as welterweight champion, Usman (20-2 MMA, 15-1 UFC) was dethroned by Edwards (19-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC) in dramatic fashion this past Saturday at UFC 278.
Both Edwards and UFC president Dana White agree that a trilogy is next, and White contemplated the idea of hosting it at Wembley Stadium in London. Naturally, Edwards is in.
And so is Usman.
“What else makes sense? I mean, look at the division,” Usman told TMZ. “No, it’s absolutely what’s gonna happen next. I’ve talked to 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 up 3-1 on all three judges’ scorecards before a stunning left head kick knocked him out cold with 56 seconds left in the fight.
“It was a great shot,” Usman said. “A great shot. I’m talking Hail Mary in the Super Bowl, last 10 seconds, that was a great shot. Hats off to Leon. …
“It’s not hard at all. You know how many people I’ve done that to? It’s not hard at all. It happened. That’s the beautiful thing about this sport, is that happens, but we forget what was actually taking place in that fight, so I’m not down at all.”