Leon Edwards Talks About Next Fight With Usman

UFC Welterweight champion, Leon Edwards, has revealed that he has an upcoming fight with former champion, Kamaru Usman, and it is likely to take place in 2023. The Jamaican-British fighter said that he would like for the fight to take place in Wembley Stadium, Villa Park, or any other location in the United Kingdom. 

Edwards defeated Usman via a head kick in the fifth round of their fight, which took place in August to win the UFC Welterweight title. The shock defeat ended Usman’s reign as UFC Welterweight champion, having won the belt in 2019 and produced five successful title defences. 

The fight in August was the second time Edwards and Usman squared off on the octagon. The first time they did, which was in 2015, Usman won the fight via unanimous decision. Now, Edwards is saying that a trilogy fight is in the works, which could happen next year. He said that he had gone to Usman’s country to beat him, and it was only right for Usman to come to the UK for the rematch. 

He said: “We’re going back to the sites. I’m not going over (to the US) now. I did my job. I went over to (Usman’s) backyard and took it off him, so now he has to come to my backyard. I’m not going over there again. It’s on my terms now. He has to come over here.”

Most UFC fights hold in the United States, so it would not be easy for Edwards to get his wish fulfilled, and he may have to settle with facing his opponent in the US. There is also no confirmation on whether the fight with Usman would be his next fight or if there would be a fight before that one. 

In the coming months, we will have a better understanding of what’s to come regarding the Edwards vs. Usman trilogy.