Former mixed martial artist welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has backed Colby Covington to take Leon Edwards to the canvas ahead of their UFC 296 welterweight title fight scheduled for Saturday, December 16, at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.
Usman has fought Edwards three times, winning once and suffering two defeats, which saw him lose his welterweight title.
The Nigerian Nightmare has also fought Colby Covington twice, where he successfully defended the welterweight title in both fights.
Heading into the UFC 296 title fight, Edwards, the 32-year-old MMA fighter, is favourite to beat Covington and defend his belt for the welterweight title for the second time. But Usman believes the American fighter can create an upset in Las Vegas.
Read also Kamaru Usman loses to Chimaev on points
“Here is my whole thing with picking, I don’t know because we know as wrestlers and now as fighters, DC, we know when you have been gone for a year and some change, certain guys react differently to that,” Usman said on DC & RC on ESPN.
“A guy like Dominick Cruz can take a year-and-a-half off and return and still look like nothing happened. To where other guys can take a year-and-a-half off and look completely flat. We don’t know how much that time will affect them, which scares me about Colby Covington.
“I do believe in what I just said. Leon Edwards believes he is the best welterweight on the planet right now because he got his hand raised fighting Kamaru Usman; I’m going 100 per cent with Colby Covington.”
It’s interesting to note that, given their rivalry, Usman would have chosen Colby Covington if the layoff hadn’t occurred. However, if Covington prevails, Usman will have an easier time returning for another try at the title.
Usman, defeated by Khamzat Chimaev in October, is on a three-fight losing run. He had lost his welterweight belt in back-to-back contests against Edwards.
