Kamaru Usman to face Leon Edwards
The UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter has his subsequent opponent.
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman will defend his title towards Leon Edwards at UFC 278 on Aug. 20, the promotion introduced Saturday. The occasion will happen at Vivint Area in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah.
The combat is a rematch, as Usman defeated Edwards by unanimous choice in 2015. Neither fighter has misplaced since.
Since profitable the belt towards Tyron Woodley in March 2019, Usman has defeated Colby Covington twice, Jorge Masvidal twice and Gilbert Burns. He stays undefeated within the UFC and holds a profession report of 20-1.
Edwards had been on an eight-fight win streak since his loss to Usman, however went almost two years and not using a combat between July 2019 and March 2021. The UFC went so far as removing Edwards from its rankings after failing to figure out his next fight, together with his lay-off finally ending towards Belal Mugmmad after a Khamzat Chimaev combat fell by way of as a result of COVID-19.
The Edwards-Muhammad ended as a no-contest as a result of an unintentional eye poke by Edwards. The welterweight went on to defeat Nat Diaz in his most up-to-date combat, establishing a title shot.
Edwards is the most recent member of one of many UFC’s most deep divisions to get a title shot. Ought to he lose, the potential of a Chimaev title shot looms giant after the rising star’s win over Burns at UFC 273. Edwards is formally ranked because the UFC’s No. 2 contender, whereas Chimaev as No. 3 (Covington stays No. 1).
Different fights reported to be within the works for UFC 278 embody Luke Rockhold vs. Paulo Costa and Victor Altamirano vs. Jake Hadley.
