In the lead-up to the fight, Usman has been boasting that Edwards has not shown him anything to prove that he is a better fighter. However, Edwards thinks that this is simply a way for Usman to build his confidence back up after his previous knockout.
"When it’s all said and done, winners win and even on my worst day, my worst performance, I still knock you out," Edwards said during the UFC 286 media day.
“I think if you get knocked out like that, he has to find something to clutch onto, right? He needs to build his confidence back up because going into it he thought he could never be taken down, he could never be hurt, or knocked out. So I think you have to find something to clutch onto. He was winning the fight but who cares? It goes down as you out cold, headshot and that’s all that matters. When it’s all said and done, winners win and even on my worst day, my worst performance, I still knock you out.”
Edwards knows that a knockout loss like the one Usman suffered can have a long-term impact on a fighter's confidence. Prior to his loss to Edwards, Usman had been on an undefeated streak and had set a record-breaking run at welterweight. Now, as a contender for the title for the first time in his career, Usman is trying to regain his former glory.
“He’s 36 years old, been in many tough fights, He thought he could never be beaten and then to be sparked like that, that does have a mental thing on you. I know he pretends like he doesn’t care and he was happy he got knocked out because of the pressures as champion is too hard and ‘I’m happy I got knocked out’ but for me that doesn’t make no sense. So we’ll see on Saturday night whether or not it makes a difference but you best believe I’ll be trying to knock him out again.”
Despite Usman's recent statements, Edwards believes that he will be able to knock out Usman again. He is confident in his abilities and is ready to take on the former champion once again.
The upcoming fight between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman at UFC 286 is highly anticipated. Edwards, who previously knocked out Usman, believes that the former champion's recent bravado is simply a cover-up for his loss. Usman, on the other hand, is trying to regain his former glory as a contender for the title. Only time will tell who will come out on top in this highly anticipated trilogy fight.