Kamaru Usman handled his first UFC loss with grace, even in the moments after his stunning defeat at the hands of Leon Edwards at UFC 278.
The new video, which was released Wednesday by Will Harris from Anatomy Of a Fighter showed a before-and-after look at Usman’s life on a date that will live forever in MMA legend. Set as more than a 3-to-1 betting favorite, Usman was up on the scorecards at UFC 278 and 56 seconds away from tying Anderson Silva’s hallowed record for the best-ever start to a UFC career (16-0) before suffering an improbable fifth-round knockout loss via head kick.
Watch Usman’s journey above, which includes comments from the now-former UFC welterweight champion just moments after his knockout loss to Edwards.
“Leon is a tough guy,” Usman stated backstage at UFC 278. The thing is, he’s tough because even when I try to break his spirit or break his will, he starts the next round with the heat. It’s almost like he replenishes, he doesn’t stay on E. He’ll come back, even though I remind him very quickly to go back down, he always comes back with it.
“That’s very f****** dangerous when guys fight like that. The only other guy who really fought like that was Emil Meek, the viking. To stop that motherf *****,, I’d have to smash him to the ground. Props to him. And all I have to do to beat those kind of guys is just outclass them, and I did that. Sometimes, however, it happens.
“Good job, ‘Rocky.’ Good job, ‘Rocky.’ See you soon.”
According to UFC president Dana White, the UFC is already exploring several venues for a Edwards vs. Usman trilogy match to take place in England.
