Kamaru Usman is preparing for a violent showdown with Leon Edwards in their trilogy bout at UFC 286’s main event on Saturday. The former champion, 35, hopes to reclaim the welterweight title after losing it to the Jamaican‑born Briton in August 2022. Usman had previously outpointed Edwards in 2015, but the fight ended dramatically when a head kick knocked him out seconds before the final bell.
The Nigerian‑American will face Edwards at London’s O₂ Arena, and he has said he is entering the fight with a rare, violent mindset. “I’m going into this fight with a rare mindset,” Usman declared during Wednesday’s media day. “It’s time for me to get violent.” He recalled feeling similarly before his 2017 match against Sergio Moraes, when frustration with matchmakers fueled a first‑round knockout. The same anger resurfaced in 2019 against Colby Covington, whose worldwide comments incited Usman to a fifth‑round TKO victory.
Usman also referenced his 2021 bout with Jorge Masvidal, which came after a quarantine period caused by Gilbert Burns’ COVID‑19 diagnosis. Dominating that fight led to Masvidal’s excuses, further stoking Usman’s rage and resulting in a second‑round knockout. “Now I’m starting to get that same feeling again,” he added, indicating he is channeling that intensity for the upcoming encounter.
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