Fighter says Usman won’t be the same again after defeat against Edwards
Another victory for Usman would have almost certainly meant a match-up with Chimaev, provided the undefeated rising star beat Nate Diaz this weekend
UFC fighter Khamzat Chimaev believes Kamaru Usman will be a changed man after losing to Leon Edwards.
Usman's title reign came to an end as Leon Edwards shocked the world by becoming the first man to knock out the Nigerian at UFC 278.
Another victory for Usman would have almost certainly meant a match-up with Chimaev, provided the undefeated rising star beat Nate Diaz this weekend.
Reflecting on Usman's defeat, Chimaev told ESPN: 'It was a crazy fight, good fight.
'I learned a lot of things about that fight. It was funny to watch, [Usman] was too much high up.
"I'm gonna fight with Canelo [Alvarez]", and he got shot. He wasn't focused and he said, "I'm always focused", and a lot of things. "I want to make money"... Leon comes and shot his head, dropped the guy.
'I don't think he'll be the same guy again. In the mind. We've seen a lot of champions thinking, "nobody can beat me", because he defend so many times. "Now I'm unbeatable", that kind of thing, and bam, somebody knock you out. Now you know you're human, as well.'
Usman is expected to face Edwards once again as he looks to recapture UFC gold, with the trilogy bout between the pair likely to take place in early 2023.
Meanwhile, Canelo Alvarez praised Kamaru Usman during an interview with FightHype.com, calling him a brilliant fighter and pointing out that anyone can lose in combat sports in light of Usman's most recent defeat.
He was then questioned with what he had to say about Usman calling him out. "Not now," Alvarez retorted, "Not now, I want to have great fights and make history in boxing. And then maybe when I am finished boxing, maybe I can do that kind of fights."
Usman interestingly claimed in the "I Am Athlete" podcast: ""I beat Jake Paul. Nobody cares. You're supposed to beat him. I still get a bank account now. I still get that. I beat Canelo, biggest athlete in the world, not even close, 100 million in the bank. If I'm gonna gamble, I'm gonna gamble well."
The Mexican boxer wants to have great fights first, and then he might be willing to take on other challengers. Usman anticipates earning $100 million from his bout with Alvarez, but only time will tell when the two men square off.
Usman and Jake Paul have each challenged Alvarez to a fight. Despite this, the Mexican ignored the protests. Usman and Paul might get the chance to confront Alvarez in the future, though, given what he said.
