Usman later said that the pressure was on him in that fight because of his 15-fight UFC winning streak and his aura of invincibility, which had people hoping he would lose. He compared it to the scrutiny Floyd Mayweather faced, where people bought his fights just to watch him lose. Usman acknowledged that the kick was a beautiful and well-executed move, but he believes that it was the only weapon that Edwards used effectively.
"When you’re successful, it’s almost like everyone is sitting back waiting for you to lose. That’s what I think the knock on Floyd Mayweather was. He was so successful and perfect at his craft that people bought his fights just to watch him lose. … Once it happened to me, it was the kick heard ’round the world. The kick was the only weapon he used that worked. It was just a good kick. It was something that I knew that I didn’t do a good job, or I didn’t do as well as I should have to stop it. But it was just a beautiful kick. Hat’s off to him.” - Kamaru Usman
Now, on Saturday, March 18, 2023, Usman will get a chance to avenge his loss and reclaim the title in a rematch, which will be a trilogy fight between the two. The first time they fought was back in 2015, when Usman won via unanimous decision.
The highly anticipated fight will take place at UFC 286, which will be held at The O2 in London, Edwards' home city. Usman has expressed confidence that he can win the fight as long as he makes the necessary adjustments and stays focused. He knows that there's more going on in a fight than what the public can see and that he has to battle through various challenges to make it to the fight.
Usman still sees himself as the same fighter he was before the loss to Edwards, and he plans to remind Edwards of that fact. He intends to break Edwards' heart, spirit, and soul in the fight, as he does with all his opponents. While he acknowledges that the rematch will be more difficult than their first meeting, he believes that he can win and that he can remind Edwards of the four rounds before the kick that took his title.
“There are minor adjustments I have to make. But whenever you go into a fight, there’s a lot more going on than what the public can see. There’s a lot that I have to battle through just to make it to the fight. But that’s why I think I’ve been successful – because if I don’t put myself through the fire, then I don’t feel as confident knowing that I can deal with anything being thrown at me once it’s time for real.
I’ve never been in this position, but I know that mentally, nothing has changed for me. This is the same guy that I beat up before. He’s still going to be the same guy. I have to remind him who he is right away. … When I fight guys, I fight their heart because I want to break their heart. I want to break their spirit and break their soul.
It’s going to be a little bit more difficult this time. In his head, he forgot about the four rounds before the kick. He forgot that I was taking his soul, so I have to remind him that I’m someone who took his soul twice.” - Kamaru Usman
In parallel, Leon Edwards is also confident securing a second victory.
Despite losing his title, Usman is still a solid favorite in the rematch, with odds of around -250 at Tipico Sportsbook. The fight is expected to be a thrilling and intense showdown between two of the best fighters in the UFC welterweight division, with the outcome likely to have major implications for the future of the division.
In conclusion, the upcoming UFC 286 fight between Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards is one of the most highly anticipated fights in recent memory. Usman will be looking to reclaim his title and avenge his loss to Edwards, while Edwards will be looking to prove that his victory was no fluke and cement his status as one of the top fighters in the UFC. Regardless of the outcome, this fight is sure to be a memorable one for both fighters and for MMA fans around the world.