Nigerian-American Kamaru Usman has vowed to return better than ever after his shock defeat by Leon Edwards at UFC 278.
Usman was KO’d by a stunning head-kick by Edwards and was out cold. He was taken straight to hospital as a precaution and therefore didn’t hold any interviews after the fight.
But the Nigerian took to Twitter to quickly underline his desire to get back in the octagon better than before.
‘Champions f$ck up sometimes,’ Usman wrote. ‘But we bounce back and come with vengeance!
‘Damn I love this sport!!! Things happen but… Alhamdulillah we move!! Congratulations Leon Edwards.’
Usman was knocked out with less than a minute remaining in the final round and was ahead of the judges scorecards.
The 35-year-old Usman won his first match with Edwards but after Saturday’s result, a trilogy is on the cards.
UFC chief Dana White said he was considering London’s Wembley stadium as a venue for part three.
‘How do you not do it?’ White said about a third fight. ‘Wembley… yeah.’
White said of the fight: ‘I thought that Usman fought the perfect fight. It’s crazy, I was listening to the commentary of Joe Rogan, Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier, and they were spot on in everything they were saying about what Leon needed to do.
And as soon as they were saying it, he literally lands the head-kick.
‘Usman fought with absolute and total confidence all night. He fought the perfect fight, it might not be the most fan-friendly style but…he was landing big shots to the body, big shots the head, elbows – he couldn’t have fought a more perfect fight.
‘There are no lopsided, one-sided, fights in this sport. The problem with this fight was, people wouldn’t give Leon enough credit. He’s a very dangerous opponent.’