Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards (credits: Bloody Elbow)
Dana White has confirmed to BT Sport that welterweight champion Kamaru Usman will face Leon Edwards in his 6th title defense fight
It has been a back-breaking journey to the top for UK’s welterweight contender Leon Edwards. His impressive nine-fight win streak came through a series of setbacks, hard-cheese, and a series of uncertainties. But it looks like his patience and perseverance is finally paying dividends.
Sized up as the fighter that possesses the best skills on paper apart from the champion, Edwards has been rallying for his chance at the gold for quite some time. The pair met back in 2015, when Kamaru Usman beat Edwards by unanimous decision.
That has been the only loss for the British-Jamaican fighter, who has improved his skill set by leaps and bounds. Speaking to BT Sport, UFC boss-man gave props to the Brit for taking on tough competitors, and even accepting the Khamzat Chimaev fight twice when nobody wanted to fight him.
He said, “I was talking about how nobody wanted to fight Khamzat , he was gonna fight Khamzat twice. He was gonna fight Khamzat twice in the position he was in, you can’t take anything away from this kid.”
Speaking about his next fight, Dana White said, “He absolutely deserves the next title shot, and yes, I’m wishing for nothing but good luck for Edwards this year, he’s had a rough run… Usman, we’re waiting for his hand to get cleared. His hand gets cleared and he’s got the fight.”
Usman is expected to be back in fighting form by June as per reports, and a clash during the International Fight Week totally makes sense at this point.
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman had hurt his hand three weeks before his rematch against Colby Covington in November, 2021. He has since then had a surgery to repair the damage, that will keep him sidelined for some time.
Usman is eyeing a summer return during International Fight Week, and it looks like all the stars have finally aligned for his long due rematch against Leon Edwards. Speaking to BT Sport he said, ”Leon is a killer” and that fight will take place this year.
As for Edwards, a fight against Usman would not just be for the welterweight belt, but he’s also fighting the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world currently.
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