Leon Edwards out to prove a point in Kamaru Usman trilogy: ‘I have to show these motherf******’

Leon Edwards is feeling great ahead of his trilogy bout with Kamaru Usman. At UFC 278, Edwards managed among the best resurgences in MMA history, knocking out Usman with a last-minute head kick to declare the welterweight title. With Usman winning their preliminary battle back in 2015, that established the trilogy bout, which will heading UFC 286 in March. And with the method things went last time, Edwards thinks fans will be hearing “And still!” come battle night. “I understand he’s excellent. I’m not misguided. I understand he’s a great fighter, however I genuinely think that I am much better,” Edwards stated on The MMA Hour. “I’m taking the self-confidence from understanding I can take him down, understanding when it strikes the mat and I’m on top, I’m way much better, understanding I can knock him out. I can take all the included self-confidence that I had anyhow into the next battle.” Oddsmakers disagree with Edwards, with Usman presently set up as a -245 preferred, suggesting a 71 percent win likelihood. “Rocky” notes he has numerous benefits coming into the trilogy bout. For one, UFC 286 occurs in London, offering him the home town benefit. Along with the self-confidence he got from the knockout, there’s a concern of if that knockout loss, the very first of Usman’s profession, will alter him. “It’s an hour far from my home,” Edwards stated. “I do not need to take a trip. It’s a simple drive. I can decrease on a Tuesday. I do not need to leave 2, 3 weeks early. I can really complete my camp in Birmingham and go to London with my group. “As far as the knockout goes, let’s see how he responds. I’m not truly counting on him being gun-shy. I’m heading out there to get ready for the Usman there is. We’ll see. I’ve stated it time and time once again, that ravaging knockout does alter fighters. I’ve seen it in boxing, I’ve seen it in combined martial arts, let’s see how he responds when I beginning sinking them shots towards his head. It’s going to be great. “One more point, I’ve never ever lost in the U.K., amateur or professional. I’ve never ever lost a battle in the U.K. For Usman to come to the U.K., my heading program, in London, for the belt, I simply can’t see how he gets it done. I’m thrilled for it. I can’t wait.” Plus, there’s the matter of elevation. UFC 278 happened in Salt Lake City, where the elevation significantly impacted a variety of battles on the card, consisting of, Edwards states, theirs. The welterweight champ preserves that Usman’s success in the rematch, prior to getting knocked out, remained in part due to the high elevation playing havoc with him. “That had to do with 40 percent, 50 percent of what I am,” Edwards stated. “He was great, however I keep in mind believing in my head, ‘This man isn’t even that excellent!’ My body simply wasn’t working for some factor. Even as he was striking me, wailing on my guard, in my head I’m believing, ‘This motherf ***** isn’t that excellent.’ I simply could not get my body to work. It wasn’t working for some factor. I might believe in my head what I wished to do, however my body wasn’t responding. “It was an odd sensation that I’ve never ever felt prior to. If he approaches like that, it’s going to be a bad night for him. I’m ready for the finest Usman there is. It’s been a long roadway to get to this position, I can’t get here and after that offer it away like that. I need to reveal these motherf ******. It’s going to be great.” UFC 286 occurs on March 18 at the O2 Arena in London.