Kamaru Usman has shared some valuable advice for Israel Adesanya, who recently lost his middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293.
At UFC 278, Usman’s welterweight reign came to an end after he was knocked out cold by Leon Edwards in the dying moments of their title fight which the Nigerian was winning up until the finish. The former champ went for an immediate rematch at UFC286, where he lost by a comfortable decision.
In a recent appearance on the DC & RC show (as transcribed by MMA Fighting), Usman advised his close friend Adesanya against rushing into a rematch with Strickland. He suggested that ‘The Last Stylebender’ should take a break, recover, and then come back stronger.
“For Izzy, I think the activity might be a little too much,” Usman said. “Izzy has been fighting a lot. A lot. Between when I was champion, Izzy, we were fighting on quite a few pay-per-views. So I think Izzy’s at a point where he could just take a little break. And I think he can make the adjustments to come out there and win that fight.”
Usman also acknowledged that he hurried into his own rematch with Edwards at UFC 286, and that taking a bit more time off to prepare would have been a wiser decision.
“I was definitely in this position,” Usman said. “And I, honestly, looking back now, I probably rushed it. I probably should have taken a little bit more time off.”
Do you agree with Kamaru Usman?
