Do you think Kamaru Usman is declining as a fighter?

[Takes Two To Tango]

I believe he's not in his peak anymore, he's only going to fade/decline. The guy 36, with bad knees.

Don't get me wrong Leon fought a great smart fight, but however Usman didn't look the same.

His rhythm seemed off, but who knows. Maybe he'll bounce back we'll see. But I doubt it.

 

[The-AxeMurderer]

He seemed a bit slower, but also was he was so cautious of the headkick I think his defense for low and mid kicks was greatly compromised.

Leon chewed up his body and legs.

Could have contributed to him looking old.

 

[Davidjacksonjones]

Most likely
Barely won any rounds
Maybe Edwards improved a lot, maybe Usman declined maybe both

I do wish the best for him though, he was a great champion but i felt he got a lot of hate

 

[Zanmato]

How many grappling heavy fighters go through serious surgeries, particularly on the knees and then return to form in their later 30s and beyond? He's clearly still a good fighter but the clock is ticking loudly

 

[HHJ]

I mean he put up a high pace,to keep Leon at or near the fence,but I honestly also think stylistically Leon is a bad matchup for him. He cant keep him down,and Leon's precision output stifles him

 

[Peli]

I believe he's not in his peak anymore, he's only going to fade/decline. The guy 36, with bad knees.

Don't get me wrong Leon fought a great smart fight, but however Usman didn't look the same.

His rhythm seemed off, but who knows. Maybe he'll bounce back we'll see. But I doubt it.

I believe his still at his peak physically. I just think mentally, yeah he's waning. He did not look like the same Usman that pressured forward and felt invincible. he looked timid

 

[FIghtxIQ]

I believe he's not in his peak anymore, he's only going to fade/decline. The guy 36, with bad knees.

Don't get me wrong Leon fought a great smart fight, but however Usman didn't look the same.

His rhythm seemed off, but who knows. Maybe he'll bounce back we'll see. But I doubt it.

No one has ever used footwork and movement against him. Leon was the first one that made him use his legs/knees. I always said even before their 2nd fight that was the best way to fight Usman. With his knees he just won't be able to keep up, he will always be a step behind. Lucky for Usman lots of fighters don't really have footwork/movement so he'll still be able to implement his game vs most fighters.

 

[tonystpierre]

I believe he's not in his peak anymore, he's only going to fade/decline. The guy 36, with bad knees.

Don't get me wrong Leon fought a great smart fight, but however Usman didn't look the same.

His rhythm seemed off, but who knows. Maybe he'll bounce back we'll see. But I doubt it.

I was telling a few of my friends this earlier. I really think his prime is over sadly. He just doesn't look the same anymore.

 

[Substance Abuse]

Shot knees. Hand injuries. A ton of mileage with a lifetime of wrestling and fighting. At 36, he's definitely on the decline.

 

[Zakenkashish]

Shot knees. Hand injuries. A ton of mileage with a lifetime of wrestling and fighting. At 36, he's definitely on the decline.

as someone with bad knees I don't understand how a man with "shot knees" can take as much punishment as he did last night.
after the adrenaline rush ends id be confined to a wheelchair.

 

[Substance Abuse]

as someone with bad knees I don't understand how a man with "shot knees" can take as much punishment as he did last night.
after the adrenaline rush ends id be confined to a wheelchair.

These guys are absurdly tough. They don't get enough respect.

 

[CPH]

No one has ever used footwork and movement against him. Leon was the first one that made him use his legs/knees. I always said even before their 2nd fight that was the best way to fight Usman. With his knees he just won't be able to keep up, he will always be a step behind. Lucky for Usman lots of fighters don't really have footwork/movement so he'll still be able to implement his game vs most fighters.

That was Leon’s fatal flaw in the first fight: that he is a ‘hold the fort’ type guy who like to fighting inching back, as he looks for a counter. Against Usman, this meant that he was exceedingly easy to work into the fence.

In this rematch though, Leon came out focused on moving laterally, non-stop, staying off the fence. He also turned on the aggression and used feints to keep Usman from moving forward with impunity, like he normally does.

This worked well in the early rounds, allowing Edwards to attack Usman’s body and legs enough to slow him down, degrade his ability to wrestle and be offensive with his boxing. Usman never really showed how hurt his legs were but I could tell that they were toast, simply by how he was moving, throwing punches and his inability to even control distance properly.

Leon did eventually tire and revert back to his old habit of moving straight back, but at that point, Usman was compromised. Also Edwards’ improved counter-wrestling, ability to turn out/escape the cage pins, remained intact.

 

[UFCFantasyMVP]

Yeah, his prime seems to be over. Which is sad, 'cause some people with his greatness can look like they're still in it until they're 40. But he didn't look bad, so maybe Leon just has his number.

But to really answer this question, we should come back to it after Colby fights Leon. I know Mmath doesn't always add up, but sometimes it can. And if Colby beats Leon, specifically by getting the better of the striking, then I think it would be extremely safe to say Kamaru is nowhere close to who he was.

I've been reading about Kamaru's "shot knees" for years, but even now it doesn't seem to have ever really hindered him, so I'm not sure why it gets brought up so much. Unless you guys think he used to move better or something...

 

[xMTDx]

He looked a little slower and was reaching and winging punches which would mean that his footwork wasnt there, most likley due to knee wear and tear.

 

[fizzlehiss]

Another main character syndrome take that cannot comprehend the idea of other fighters getting better.

 

[The-AxeMurderer]

Another main character syndrome take that cannot comprehend the idea of other fighters getting better.

It can be a bit of both though.

Leon looked good, utilized great footwork and kicks.

Usman seemed a bit slower but not too much different.

But like others have said, tons of injuries, tons of fights, the man is in his mid 30s, hard to see him improving much at this point.

 

[aogiri]

Not gonna get into the later half of the fight as it coulda been all the kicks Leon landed but starting in round 1 Usman's game plan was weird. Expected him to push the pace on Leon but instead he stands at kicking range and lets Leon dictate it which is where Leon has the main advantage and how Usman got finished last fight.

 

[RespectTheWarriors]

I believe he is ever so slightly out of his prime. Kind of like LeBron - he is getting outside help that for sure is extending his longevity and he is still great but not what he once was.

 

[Pechan]

I mean just watch any video of him walking, pretty obvious his knees/legs are fucked up, it wouldn't surprise me if he gets a full knee replacement after retiring like Bisping did, or even a new hip like Askren.

 

[TheGreatA]

He's a shadow of the guy he was a few years ago. Most of his takedown attempts were just pitiful to watch. He's now just a tough dude who stays competitive because of willpower and training discipline. His athleticism has faded.

To be honest, I didn't see anything special from Edwards. He's a good striker, we know that, but he's fairly inactive and he didn't have to do too much to defend Usman's uninspired takedown attempts. Usman was just slugging away at ghosts for 90% of the fight because his feet can't keep up.