Stephen Thompson believes Leon Edwards beat Kamaru Usman with perfect technique at UFC 278.
Edwards went into the fifth round with a clear loss and didn’t get the best start in the final innings. It looked like Usman would defend his belt with a decision, but Edwards knocked Usman down with a clean header in the final minute, which Thompson said was a great technique.
“This is fantastic, it shows Edwards’ real discipline,” Thompson told BJPENN.com. “He didn’t give up, which surprised me. He ended up beating Usman in the first round and didn’t get beat, then with his back to him, I think Edwards would go out and smash him. Then, second, third And the fourth round was Usman and the average Usman we saw, the pressure, the grind, the knockdown. I think Edwards’ defense played a role in Usman’s tank because it forced him to keep shooting… …it’s just the perfect technique done at the right time.”
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After this win, the UFC made it clear that Edwards-Usman 3 would be next, even though Jorge Masvidal had indicated that he Want a title fight. According to Thompson, he believes that “Gamebred” should not be crowned champions, but that champions like Usman should be rematched immediately.
“He’s trying to fight for the title again. You have a chance, but you don’t take it,” Tom Spoon said of Edward Who should I fight next. “Run back, Usman has been in tears, he’s been a champ for a while and I think he deserves a rematch. Running back with those guys. Do I think Masvidal deserves a shot? No.”
If Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman do run back, Stephen Thompson wants Kamaru Usman Usman has a wrestling-heavy game plan. If he does, “Wonder Boy” believes Usman will win the trilogy and reclaim his belt, but he knows people can’t count on Edwards.
“Usman wins. If Usman takes time off and recovers from a head injury, because the big head kick will hit you Inflicting damage, it can be dangerous for you if you don’t take time off to recover,” Thompson said of Usman-Edwards 3. “So, I think he’s going to take a break and have a rematch and I think he can finish the game…on paper it’s Usman, it’s Usman who won this fight because he’s been winning this fight , until he loses.”
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This article was first published on BJPENN.COM
