Kamaru Usman Opens Up On Mental Struggles After UFC 294 Loss

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Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is at a crossroads following his third straight loss within the Octagon.

Usman’s short-notice gamble against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 did not repay, as he misplaced by unanimous determination. The battle was Usman’s first at middleweight and will’ve doubtlessly earned himself a 185lb title shot with a victory.

Usman stepped up on days’ discover after Paulo Costa’s withdrawal from the UFC 294 co-main occasion. He was trying to bounce again after back-to-back losses to Leon Edwards, together with most not too long ago of their UFC 286 rematch.

Usman’s dropping skid started with a brutal head-kick knockout loss to Edwards at UFC 278 final 12 months. He was a couple of minute away from remaining the UFC welterweight champion and cementing himself as arguably the best welterweight of all time.

However, Usman is now trying to find solutions from inside amidst his three-fight dropping streak, and opened up about some private modifications he feels he must make going ahead.

Kamaru Usman After UFC 294: I Want To Belief Myself Extra

In a post-fight interview with ESPN‘s Megan Olivi, Usman revealed among the psychological hurdles he is battled by his three-fight dropping skid.

“You drop two razor-thin ones to Leon [Edwards],” Usman stated. “You go years with out dropping, and also you drop two shut ones like that, you begin to kinda query issues and begin to doubt your self a bit bit. You nearly overlook what it looks like. If there’s something I can take away from tonight, I have to belief myself extra and belief my coaches…

“Combating a younger, hungry bull like that…I did not belief my form. I am a championship fighter and you’ll’t begin sluggish like that. Give me a pair additional rounds, I believe the world is aware of what that end result may be.”

Usman has admitted that he would possibly’ve returned to the Octagon too rapidly at UFC 286 following the head-kick knockout loss to Edwards. Earlier than that, he was unbeaten in his UFC tenure, together with latest title defenses towards Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.

Usman stays one of many high pound-for-pound fighters on the earth when he is at his greatest, though his subsequent UFC look might be paramount to him probably returning to the championship stage.