By NAN Sports Editor
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Friday. August 10, 19: Immigrant Caribbean fighter Leon “Rocky” Edwards will face Nigeria’s Kamaru Usman in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 278 welterweight belt in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Edwards, who was born in Jamaica, believes this is the right time to fight Usman, who is coming off a rough year with three fights in 2021.
“Now is the perfect time,” Edwards (19-3-1) said Thursday. “He has been in many wars. He’s hurt by Colby, hurt by Gilbert. His body shows it. I’m fresher, I’m bigger and I’m excited to prove to the world that I’m number one.”
The UFC 278 bout is a rematch from December 2015, which was a unanimous decision win for Usman (20-1).
Edwards hasn’t tasted defeat since, winning his last nine bouts. That loss still drives him, though, and it finally marks his chance to redeem himself — as well as win his first UFC championship.
“I hate the feeling of losing,” Edwards told Sports Illustrated. “I still hate that loss. Kamaru making that decision on me has pushed me in every fight. It’s a feeling I remember. I think about it every time I train. It has been a long and hard road of almost seven years to get here. It’s an amazing feeling. I am happy, I am grateful and I am fully prepared. This is my time.”
If Usman wins, he will extend his UFC winning streak to 16, tying the legendary Anderson Silva.
But Edwards is confident: “I’ve overcome so many obstacles to get here, from being born in Jamaica to fighting for the UFC world title. I know who I am. I will go out there on Saturday to perform and God willing, I will get the victory,” he added.
