Kamaru Usman knows exactly what it feels like to walk into the octagon with the pressure of a career-defining fight on your shoulders. That is why he believes Leon Edwards is now entering one of the most important moments of his career at UFC 322. After losing the welterweight title to Belal Muhammad and then suffering a submission loss to Sean Brady, Edwards is now staring down the possibility of dropping three straight fights. For a former champion who once ruled the division, that is a dangerous spot.
Usman reflected on Edwards’ situation in an interview with MMA Fighting and compared it to the tough stretch he himself endured not long ago. Despite winning the majority of rounds across two fights with Edwards, Usman famously lost the title by knockout and then came up short in the rematch. He later stepped up on short notice to face Khamzat Chimaev and dropped another close majority decision. The pressure was immense, and he felt it deeply.
That shared experience is why Usman understands the magnitude of Edwards’ fight with Carlos Prates on Saturday. “It is a big one because you do not want to drop that many fights like that, especially when you are getting dominated,” Usman said. “This matchup is different because Prates is a striker and that has not been Leon’s main problem. But nobody wants to drop three in a row. That is tough for anyone.”
Edwards struggled heavily with grappling in his recent losses, which raises questions even if he manages to defeat Prates. The Brazilian is known for explosive knockout power, but Edwards remains one of the most technical kickboxers the welterweight division has ever seen. Still, technical skill does not erase the pressure of back-to-back defeats.
While Edwards fights to save his position in the rankings, the rest of the welterweight division is heating up with some of the most important matchups of the year. Sean Brady looks to continue his surge when he fights undefeated prospect Michael Morales. One week later, former champion Belal Muhammad faces Ian Machado Garry in a must-watch bout at UFC Qatar.
Usman has openly campaigned for the next title shot against the winner of Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev, but even he admits the picture is still unclear. With fighters like Shavkat Rakhmonov, Prates, Garry, Brady, Morales, and Joaquin Buckley all chasing the same goal, the division is packed with contenders looking to break away from the pack.
“It is a great time to be a top welterweight,” Usman said. “All these guys are right there. After this weekend, we might finally see some separation.”
Whether Edwards remains part of that elite group depends entirely on what happens at UFC 322.
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