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After Leon Edwards knocked out Kamaru Usman, there were speculations about the next match, i.e. the trilogy. The majority would like to see a new fight. Khabib Nurmagomedov believes that he will reach the trilogy, but he has doubts about Kamaru Usman and his chances in the next match.
“I’m aware that the trilogy is already in the works,” Nurmagomedov told Ушатайка (h/t Mr. MMA Shorts). “I believe he can beat Leon Edwards. But after such a knockout, a lot of people don’t recover.
It will be interesting to see. But I would love to see the trilogy. They are 1-1”. Nurmagomedov watched the match and was a bit worried about the Nigerian, with whom he otherwise has a good relationship. “I watched UFC [278] and honestly, I was surprised.
You could even say a little bit upset,” Nurmagomedov said. “I have a good friendship with Kamaru and of course, it was hard to watch as the best fighter in the world — who he is right now — get knocked out severely with 50 seconds remaining in the bout.
Khabib emphasized how dangerous UFC fights are, and that a person must be focused during the entire match. “I was thinking that this is essentially how the contest will finish just like he did to everyone else. But these fights are MMA and you can see by yourself, for a second, it all went wrong.
Put his hand in the wrong place, your lights could go out if the proper defense is not in place. You can wake up in the locker room and it’s over”.
Leon Edwards on Kamaru Usman
Leon Edwards had some interesting statements after the fight: "Even though that was one of my worst performances, I didn’t feel good in there tonight,” he said.
“I went out there and knocked out the pound-for-pound, so it is what it is … Going into it I knew it was going to be a tough fight, I said it all week. He’s good, but I believed I was the better man even though that was one of my worst performances.
It is what it is, I got a clean finish”. “When I went out there after he first round I felt it, I felt like my body just wasn’t reacting,” Edwards said. “It wasn’t like a cardio issue, it was more like my body just wasn’t physically reacting.
But I stayed focused, my coaches just kept reminding me that you’re still in the fight, you’re the best, and fight to the end. That combination, I was drilling with coaches, that cross head kick, and dirt landed perfectly.
… I did in the Belal [Muhammad] fight but ended in an eye poke. But it was the same combination, which is cross head kick, and it just landed perfectly”.