Kamaru Usman was injured for much of his training camp prior to the UFC 286 defeat by Leon Edwards, revealed Francis Ngannou.
The former UFC heavyweight champion, who left the organisation to pursue other opportunities earlier this year, is close friends with Usman and claimed the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ was not fully fit for his London headliner at the weekend.
Usman lost a decision against Edwards, who retained his welterweight title on home soil.
Ngannou said on his YouTube channel: “I know that he didn’t train. He didn’t have [time] to train properly because of a lot of injuries, but he was there.
“He was there. It’s a victory, an unfortunate victory, but I think now he’s mentally healthy than what he was before.”
Ngannou added: “Usually when people get knocked out, they don’t come back in the fight. Like, they will be like wobbly, he [Usman] was there before which is like a lot of step back.
“I know that he didn’t train, he didn’t have to train properly because of a lot of injuries, but he was there.”
And he also believes Usman can come back and win his old belt again, whether that be against ‘Rocky’ or someone else.
“Let’s see what’s next. I believe he’s going to get it back. I believe it,” he said.
Usman insisted his training camp since being knocked out cold by a head kick last August had gone perfectly but did not disclose any issues himself.
He credited Edwards’ game plan afterwards, with ‘Rocky’ able to defend takedowns and land punishing shots, often to the knees.
Usman has had issues with his knees throughout his career and often wears a brace to train.
He insisted that when the fight starts it is not an issue whatsoever so it will be interesting to see if he was carrying any other ailments into the showdown with Edwards.
It will be back to the drawing board for Usman, 35, who is likely to have to fight one of the top challengers next, possibly someone he has already beaten during his run as champion.
Gilbert Burns, Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington are all familiar foes, so time will tell where the UFC finds his next opponent.
Edwards, meanwhile, is rejecting Dana White’s insistence that Covington will have the next shot and angling for a more deserving opponent.