Leon Edwards eyes trilogy with Kamaru Usman, but says ‘he has to come here’
Leon Edwards is open to fighting Kamaru Usman next time out, but he says the trilogy must happen on his terms.
Edwards scored a stunning fifth-round head kick KO over Usman at UFC 278 to become the new welterweight champion. Prior to the head kick, Usman was winning the fight with ease and was a minute away from easily winning a decision to defend his belt. Yet, Edwards set up the kick perfectly but after the win, it was clear the two would run it back again.
Usman won the first fight when they first met, with Edwards winning the rematch leaving the trilogy as a highly-anticipated bout. When it will happen is uncertain, but Edwards says it must happen on his terms as he says he’s not going to the States ot make it happen, instead he wants the trilogy in the UK.
“It’s in Wembley, bro. We’re going back to the sites. I’m not going over (to the U.S.) now. I did my job. I went to over to (Usman’s) backyard and took it off him, so now he has to come to my backyard. I’m not going over there again. It’s on my terms now. He has to come over here,” Edwards said to Troopz TV.
The goal for Leon Edwards is for the fight to happen in March and hopes it will be a Stadium show at Wembley or at Cardiff in Wales.
“They said early next year, March-ish,” Edwards said. “Early next year over here in the U.K. – the stadium show. I think they’re coming to Wembley because it’s probably cold in March. It might be Cardiff (in Wales).”
Prior to the KO win over Usman, Leon Edwards was on a 10-fight unbeaten streak and had a decision win over Nate Diaz in the bout before. During the unbeaten streak, he scored wins over Vicente Luque, Rafael dos Anjos, Donald Cerrone, and Gunnar Nelson among others.
