Kamaru Usman isn’t overly concerned about what Leon Edwards will bring to the table in their highly anticipated rubber match.

The UFC returns to London, England for the first time in 2023, and in a big way. Headlining this Saturday night’s UFC 286 pay-per-view will be the third encounter between the hometown welterweight champion Edwards and his rival Usman. Their series is all tied up at 1-1 with Edwards last besting his adversary this past August with an all-timer comeback head kick knockout.

Usman first went ahead on the scoreboard in December 2015 against Edwards, winning a three-round unanimous decision. The five-round rematch was trending toward an identical result after a rocky opening frame ultimately led to a nightmarishly perfect shot from the U.K.’s finest. Therefore, Usman isn’t sold that he was bested by the better fighter in the rematch.

“Yes, you have a ton of tape,” Usman told Morning Kombat. “All these people or all these fighters have all this tape to watch and study and try to defeat you with what they’ve studied. If they’re able to do that, if they have the ability to study your tape and go out there and shut everything and do that, they’re the better fighter. They deserve to be champion anyways. You can’t stop it. If they have the ability to trump what they see on tape, they’re the better fighter anyways.

“Now, the problem is, you can watch as much tape as you want to. A lot of people can see me and say, ‘Oh, wow, he has a decent gas tank.’ But until you are locked in that cage with me and you actually feel that, you have no idea. This individual has felt it twice, and he has melted twice. He’s shown me nothing to let me believe he’s a better mixed martial artist than I am — besides one Hail Mary in the fifth round.”

Although Usman has fallen from his perch with just a second career loss in 22 bouts, it’s been more of a weight lifted than a lingering negative.

The former champion recalled how simpler life was before reaching the top of the mountain, going into LA Fitness gyms ahead of his first title shot with Tyron Woodley. Usman was able to just be “normal” and not be bothered by all the extra attention that wound up coming with being one of MMA’s biggest and best stars.

The 35-year-old Usman is still fully prepared to recapture the title this weekend, but his recent stretch without the belt hasn’t been the deep, dark hole that many may think it was.

“On the ride to the hospital that night, I was already over it,” Usman said of the loss. “When you feel that sense of relief, it’s just like all the expectations, all the this, and all of this … You just hear it all quiet down.

“It makes the sport fun for me. The sport wasn’t necessarily as fun with all the noise. I love the position that I ascended to and I appreciate it because I know that’s what comes when you really put in the work like I did over the years. But it wasn’t necessarily as fun as the journey.”

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VIDEO STEW

Embedded 2.

Look at “Rocky” now.

The guide to Edwards’ head kick.

The first London show.

Bellator 292 recap.

Anatomy of UFC 286 Ep. 1.

Gaethje behind the curtain.

War Room: Edwards vs. Usman 3.

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LISTEN UP

Heck of a Morning. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck discusses where Kamaru Usman goes after UFC 286.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Support!

Instantly iconic duo.

Taking their time.

Time.

Reaction.

Wholesome Kai and Merab.

Worth a try.

Legend.

Signed.

A wild McGregor appears.

Too much Sexy.

Sk8.

Secrets…

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Levan Chokheli (11-2, 1 NC) vs. Michael Lombardo (13-3, 1 NC); Bellator 294, April 21

Tyrell Fortune (12-3, 1 NC) vs. Sergei Bilostennyi (10-2); Bellator 294, April 21

Cris Lencioni (10-3) vs. Blake Smith (7-3); Bellator 294, April 21

Anthony Adams (9-3) vs. Sharaf Davlatmurodov (18-4-1); Bellator 294, April 21

Danny Sabatello (13-2) vs. Marcos Breno (15-2); Bellator 294, April 21

Davion Franklin (5-1) vs. Kasim Aras (7-1); Bellator 295, April 22

Ilara Joanne (11-6) vs. Bruna Ellen (6-4); Bellator 295, April 22

Mads Burnell (16-5) vs. Justin Gonzales (14-1); Bellator 295, April 22

Miranda Maverick (13-4) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (8-2); UFC 289, June 10

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FINAL THOUGHTS

I very well may be wrongly counting out Usman, but I think everything is in Edward’s favor this third time around. Either way, I expect a great fight.

Yesterday’s poll got screwed up… please go back and vote again! Thanks as always for reading, friends.

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EXIT POLL

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