Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is favored to reclaim his title when he faces the new champion, Leon Edwards, at the O2 Arena in London on March 18. In a recent video, UFC fighters shared their predictions for the upcoming trilogy bout between Usman and Edwards, with the majority leaning towards Usman.
Jack Maddalena expressed his belief that Edwards would win again, stating, “I think Leon Edwards is gonna take that one again. I think he is better than Usman.” In contrast, Eryk Anders argued in favor of Usman, noting, “I think Usman will get him again. He was beating him for 24 minutes.” Former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz also sided with Usman, saying, “Kamaru Usman. You see the fight, of course, Edwards won, congratulations to him, but four and a half rounds Usman won. Push him very hard, so I would put my money on Usman.” Middleweight fighter Bryan Battle echoed this sentiment, asserting, “That was a magical moment, but I don’t think lightning is gonna strike twice. I think Kamaru Usman was winning that fight, and I think when they fight again, he’s gonna pick up where he left off.”
The voting results revealed a clear preference for Usman, with a total of 11 votes for him compared to just 2 for Edwards. Maddalena and Randy Brown were the only fighters to support Edwards in the predictions. The betting odds reflect this trend, as Usman is currently a significant favorite at -245, while Edwards is listed as a +205 underdog according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
In their last encounter, Usman dominated the fight until Edwards landed a stunning head kick in the final minute of the fifth round, securing a dramatic victory. Edwards is currently riding a wave of momentum and will have substantial support in London. The two fighters first met in December 2015 at UFC on FOX 17, where Usman won by unanimous decision. Although similar results were anticipated in their second fight at UFC 278, Edwards surprised everyone with his performance. The trilogy fight is set to take place at UFC 286, with the undisputed welterweight championship on the line.
Comments are closed for this story.