Kamaru Usman explains why he did not go for TAKEDOWN against Leon Edwards during final minute of UFC 278
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Kamaru Usman
Kamaru Usman did not play safe in the final round of UFC 278 and paid the price for it against Leon Edwards. The Nigerian Nightmare himself explains why he thought standing up would be a good idea in the last round.
At UFC 278, Kamaru Usman faced his first defeat inside the UFC octagon against his former rival Leon Edwards. Leon was practically losing the fight until the very last minute when he turned things around with a phenomenal headkick that put the former champion to sleep in the last round. The headkick snatched the welterweight belt from one of the greatest to ever do it.
Until the final round of the fight, Kamaru was leading in scorecards, 3-1, and Leon also looked absolutely broken. Almost everyone wrote “Rocky” out of the fight but he somehow managed to stun everyone including Kamaru himself. Usman could’ve secured a takedown or a clinch and stalled time to another title defense. Kamaru’s mentality to keep going forward, however, ended up costing him the belt.
Kamaru Usman reveals he wanted a finish against Leon Edwards
Usman and Leon previously met each other in the octagon 7 years ago and the Nigerian fighter got the win via a comfortable decision. This time around during the rematch, Kamaru was looking to seal his rivalry with a finish and put the nail in the coffin. In a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Kamaru reveals why he didn’t takedown “Rocky” in the final round of UFC 278.
“That’s the way that I fight. I wanted the finish, it was just a beautiful technique. I could’ve taken him down, but I really wanted a finish and when I was setting up, and god knows what I was setting up, I didn’t land it, who knows how much damage it could’ve done, but it was just a beautiful technique [from Leon],” said Kamaru talking about his mindset during the final minutes of the fight.
“He threw head kicks throughout the fight, I blocked them all. That one was just money. I’m almost in awe of how good it was. But it happens. Champions fall, then they get back and show you why they’re champions,” added Kamaru in the interview. Usman, despite the defeat, seems to be in great spirits and is already looking forward to his trilogy with Leon.
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Prateek Athanur
(2944 Articles Published)