When the UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman surveys the rest of the division, he only sees easy prey. He’s still waiting for a serious challenge to emerge from the ranks of the UFC’s 170-pound fighters, as he told ESPN. “Now, looking at the division, there are some matchups there.
Leon Edwards goes out there and gets the job done, and as heated as this rivalry is with (Jorge) Masvidal, if he goes out there and starches Masvidal, Leon Edwards is a bona fide star.
Usman On His Next Challenger: “I’m Just Waiting for These Guys to Really Step Up”
That’s a fight that has to happen. He hasn’t lost since he fought me the first time and that’s what people are going to want to see, if he’s able to go out there and really do what he’s supposed to do with Masvidal.”
Leon Edwards is no longer fighting Jorge Masvidal at UFC 269, so this plan may not come to fruition. Usman also made reference to Vicente Luque’s recent slew of impressive performances. “Also, you can’t forget Vicente Luque. Vicente, he’s as battle-tested as anybody, he’s as fun of a fighter as anybody.
So with this new way that I fight now, where I’m at, Vicente Luque is another exciting contender. That’s another fight that could potentially take place. I’m just waiting for these guys to really step up.
These guys have got to step up and show the world that, ‘Hey, I’m that next guy.’ Right now, they’re kind of right there in the fold, trying to break through and I’m just gonna sit back and let these guys break through and make a case for themselves.”
Kamaru Usman just dispatched top-ranked challenger Colby Covington at UFC 268. Covington was arguably the greatest threat to Usman’s 18-fight unbeaten streak, but over the course of five rounds Usman was able to drop Covington several times, ultimately earning a gruelling decision win.
Leon Edwards is riding a ten-fight unbeaten streak, but without an opponent confirmed for UFC 269, his long-awaited shot at the champ may still be a while away. Vicente Luque, on the other hand, is riding a four-fight stoppage win streak. In his most recent fight, Luque dispatched elite grappler Michael Chiesa with a superb D’Arce choke.
Vicente Luque’s addition of dangerous grappling to his already prodigious striking game might make him a fascinating match for Kamaru Usman, who started as a wrestler but in recent times has added vicious striking and knockout power to his arsenal. Interestingly, Luque lost a unanimous decision to Leon Edwards back in 2017.
Would you rather see Usman fight Edwards again, or take on a fresh challenger in Vicente Luque? Let us know in the comments.
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