The championship rematch between current UFC Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and “BMF” title holder Jorge Masvidal appears to be gaining momentum.
After Usman knocked out Gilbert Burns at UFC 258 (see), “The Nigerian Nightmare” called the fight in an attempt to silence the loquacious “Gamebred” once and for all. Naturally, Masvidal did not refuse the challenge and was quick to accept the chance to take revenge after facing the champion at UFC 251 last July.
The man who appears to have been left out, however, does not think the fight will be any different. In fact, Leon Edwards says the fight is nothing more than another easy payday for Usman, because Masvidal simply doesn’t have what it takes to thrive in world title fights.
“I think Usman beat him 10 out of 10 times. I just don’t think Masvidal is a champion fighter. I think he is a good fighter, a good candidate, but he will never be champion in the UFC, ”said Edwards in a recent interview with ESPN.
“Usman is probably thinking about money, right? Easy job for a high payday. “
Conversations emerged about the possibility of Usman and Masvidal training The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) before playing the second time. Masvidal’s manager recently tweeted that their side of the deal was done, and Usman followed by posting a photo whether he and Dana White getting ready or a meeting.
As for Edwards, he has been trying to schedule a fight against Masvidal for some time, after the two had a fight backstage a few years ago that left “Rocky” bleeding and furious. He was recently eliminated by Colby Covington, a man UFC matchmakers had in mind to welcome Edwards back into the octagon after Khamzat Chimaev gave up his fight for the second time.
It’s been a year and a half since Edwards last competed and his patience is running out with all the competitors – Nate Diaz included – uninterested in fighting him.