UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya views Leon Edwards as the toughest challenger for Kamaru Usman‘s title.
Usman and Edwards go head to head this Saturday at UFC 278 with the Nigerian-born fighter making the sixth defence of his title.
It will be the pair’s first clash since their battle seven years ago when they were breaking through the UFC ranks – with Usman getting the better of Saturday’s opponent in a points victory.
Israel Adesanya claims Kamaru Usman will be in for a battle against Leon Edwards on Saturday
Leon Edwards (left) gets his long-awaited shot at Usman’s title in Salt Lake City this weekend
The loss still stands today as Edward’s solitary UFC set-back with the Brit unbeaten in his last 10 fights, whilst Usman has won 13 on the spin.
Adesanya believes Usman will be in for the toughest challenge of his reign on Saturday night and the clash could be a contender for fight of the year.
“The biggest threat to Kamaru’s throne is Leon Edwards,” Adesanya revealed on his YouTube channel.
“I’m going with Kamaru because of his momentum right now. Also, I know how hard he works. Usman is a guy right now that has momentum behind him and I feel like [Edwards] is a guy that deserves this title shot because he’s been overlooked for so long. He’s not a guy that sells or that talks or whatever, but don’t be surprised if this fight looks like me versus [Kelvin] Gastelum. It’s going to be who has more heart.”
Kumaru Usman is on a run of 13-straight wins ahead of the fight with Britain’s Leon Edwards
Edwards’ title opportunity will be his first fight since a points victory over Nate Diaz in June 2021 whilst Usman has also been out of action after undergoing hand surgery after defeating Colby Covington at UFC 268.
But the 30-year-old Brit admits he is not particularly impressed by Usman’s fighting style and his loss to the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ in 2015 will have no bearing on this weekend’s fight.
“I’ve watched it back a few times and it’ll be two different fights,” said Edwards of the pair’s first fight. “Whoever approaches it thinking ‘it’s going to be the same exact fight’ is going to lose. I’ve erased it from my memory and I’m going in there like it’s a brand new opponent, that’s how I’ve planned my camp for it.”
“His wrestling and what he does is pretty basic, it’s nothing like Khabib [Nurmagomedov] or anything like that. His technique is pretty basic, I think he trains on being tough and the stronger opponent in the cage. His last three opponents are all built like lightweights. I’m going to be one of the biggest guys he’s fought, a rangy southpaw that has great grappling.”