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A14 sports
Friday 17 March 2023
UFC 286: Usman prepares to redeem himself against Edwards

By STEVE DOUGLAS champion and extended a
AP Sports Writer winning run that stretches
It was a crosshead kick that to May 2016.
ended Kamaru Usman’s That’s some strong pedi-
long reign as champion gree on show Saturday,
and made Leon Edwards a wrapping up a card that
UFC star. includes a fight between
Edwards certainly will never Justin Gaethje and Rafael
forget it. Fiziev in the lightweight cat-
And he believes Usman egory.
might never get over it. It promises to be an emo-
“He’s what now, 35, 36 tional night for Edwards,
years old?” Edwards said who will be fighting almost
of his storied welterweight three years to the day
rival. “Coming off a knock- since a contest against Ty-
out and fighting the same ron Woodley in the same
guy who’s just knocked venue had to be called
him out. Let’s see how he off amid the onset on the
comes back.” coronavirus pandemic.
We’re about to find out. Now he returns as a cham-
The two are meeting again pion, hungry for only his
Saturday — for the third second bout in nearly two
time, and more than seven Nigerian UFC fighter Kamaru Usman, left, fights with UFC fighter Leon Edwards, of Jamaica, during years and believing Us-
years after their first fight — their welterweight championship bout at UFC 278, in Salt Lake City, Aug. 20, 2022. man won’t be able to deal
Associated Press
as the headliners at UFC with a first fight in someone
286 at the O2 Arena in Lon- seen at the time as the No. now being a totally differ- it. But that’s when you’re else’s back yard.
don. It’s a homecoming for 1 pound-for-pound fighter ent fighter. I just can’t see it speaking about ordinary “This is my hometown
Edwards, the champion. in the world. happening.” people. show,” Edwards said. “I’ve
It’s a shot at redemption for The big question now, sev- Usman is aware his ability “Leon Edwards and I both never lost in the U.K. I use
Usman, in the rare position en months later, is what has to recover from a first loss know that I am not ordi- the crowd as energy. I just
as the challenger. he got? It’s one that Ed- in nine years is being ques- nary. I’m extraordinary.” can’t see how he goes out
Dropped by a kick to the wards is asking out loud. tioned by Edwards. Indeed, underestimat- there and defeats me.”
head and neck in the fifth “What does he change?” His response? ing Usman is a dangerous Unsurprisingly, Usman feels
round in Salt Lake City in the Jamaican-born Brit “It’s warranted when you game. Especially since he differently.
August, Usman — other- said in an interview with BT speak about ordinary things beat Edwards in the first “Yes of course I could have
wise known as the “Nige- Sport, which is broadcast- and ordinary people,” Us- fight of this trilogy in 2015 waited and said let’s do it
rian Nightmare” — saw his ing the fight in Britain. “The man said this week in Lon- and was controlling the sec- in Vegas or something like
run of 15 straight victories way he fought me last is don. “When something like ond — in UFC 278 — before that but it was the perfect
come to an end. One more the way he fights. that — that trauma — hap- the unexpected knockout opportunity to come here,”
win would have tied an all- “I can’t see him in the pens, most people are go- blow from his rival, who be- he said. “It just adds to the
time UFC record for a guy space of five, six months ing to be disturbed about come Britain’s second UFC story.”q

Mets’ Díaz expected to miss season

with torn patellar tendon

ics, Eppler said a general “Edwin Díaz is a great hu- spans the length of time
timeline for recovery from man being and a fierce the player is out with an
this type of injury is about competitor,” Mets owner injury suffered during the
eight months. Steve Cohen tweeted. “All tournament.
“There are instances where of us at the Mets are shak- Díaz went 3-1 with a 1.31
athletes have come back en but determined to sus- ERA and 32 saves in 35 op-
earlier, more around the tain our quest for a great portunities while striking out
six-month mark,” Eppler season. We wish Edwin a 118 batters in 62 innings last
told reporters. “But those speedy recovery.” season. He made his sec-
are a little bit more of the Eppler said he spoke to ond All-Star appearance
exception than the rule.” Díaz several times and not- and finished ninth in the Cy
Díaz, who turns 29 next ed the right-hander was in Young Award voting.
week, retired the side in or- “great spirits.” The Mets do have some re-
Puerto Rico pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) is helped by team pitching
coach Ricky Bones and medical staff after a World Baseball der in the ninth inning of a “He’s a resilient human be- lievers on their roster with
Classic game against the Dominican Republic, Wednesday, 5-2 victory over the Domini- ing,” Eppler said. “That’s closer experience as they
March 15, 2023, in Miami. can Republic on Wednes- why he the closer he is. The attempt to replace Díaz.
Associated Press day night that sent Puerto dude doesn’t get rattled.” David Robertson has 157
Rico to the World Baseball The Mets signed Díaz to a career saves, including
Classic quarterfinals. As five-year, $102 million con- 20 last season when he
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — celebrating a victory in the Díaz and his teammates tract — the largest ever for pitched for the Chicago
New York Mets closer Ed- World Baseball Classic. jumped together in the in- a closer — after he pro- Cubs and Philadelphia Phil-
win Díaz has a torn patellar Mets general manager Billy field, the right-hander col- duced a spectacular 2022 lies. Adam Ottavino has 33
tendon and is expected to Eppler said Díaz would un- lapsed and reached for his season. All player contracts career saves. Brooks Raley
miss the entire season after dergo surgery Thursday. right leg. He was taken off are covered by insurance had six saves for the Tampa
hurting his right knee while Without going into specif- the field in a wheelchair. through the WBC that Bay Rays last season.q