Kamaru Usman imitates Leon Edwards' coach during UFC 286 presser, asks him excuse for first fightÂ
Things got heated at the presser leading up to UFC 286, when Kamaru Usman took some shots at Leon Edwards.
First, a reporter asked Kamaru Usman on whether he was ready to get his title back. To this Usman replied by alluding to the fact that Edwards had a lot of time to get better, while Usman, being the champ at that time, had other commitments outside of the octagon that got in the way.
He said:
"When you're at home, everyday, going to the gym and just training, no one calls you to come do this and do that, you're not getting interviews or none of that...it's easy to train and improve. When you're champion, it's not like that." (22:15)
Then, the reporter asked Edwards about fighting at sea level instead of altitude, like they did in their second fight. Edwards replied that he was excited, but Kamaru Usman took the chance to cut in and ask
"What was the excuse for the first fight? The three rounds before that getting your head beat in?" (23:10)
Then, Usman imitated Edwards' cornerman and coach, Dave Lovell, who famously cheered Edwards on before he returned out for the fifth round, where he stunned Usman with a headkick finish at UFC 278.
Watch as Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards go back and forth at the presser here:
The imitiation referred to the infamous moment that is now sure to go down in the MMA history books.
Watch Leon Edwards' corner rally him on here:
Even before this, Usman and Edwards traded jabs with each other. Edwards said he was going to push Usman towards retirement, stoking the fire earlier. The pair then went at it in the presser, with Edwards saying "whats your excuse for the fucking headkick?" The crowd erupted and things got heated between the two, adding more fuel to fire as we head towards UFC 286 and their trilogy fight in London.