So why did Usman lose the trilogy vs Leon?

[TerraRayzing]

After the Belal vs Leon fight, I'm really curious as to why Usman lost the fight? Usman is a better striker than Belal, equal level of cardio, is stronger and faster but he struggled closing the distance against Leon while Belal was able to do it. The one thing that gave Belal an advantage was his BJJ as Usman doesn't really have control people on the ground but in the second match, his pressure was enough to win him rounds, until the head kick KO.
Was Usman not in the right head space in the trilogy? Was the Leon we saw in the trilogy the better version vs the one we saw at 304?
Also, is Prime Usman vs Belal a mismatch or is it closer than I think?

 

[Captain Insano]

When you get ktfo like that you're thinking twice about all that pressure

 

[mjfan23]

He was out skilled that’s why?

 

[axe wound]

 

[ncboy]

all those glove, short and cage grabs Leon threw at him.

 

[bartleby929]

belal is usman 2.0, just younger and less explosive but equally boring

 

[gracie_barra_samurai]

Usman seemed to have lost his explosive wrestling in the 3rd fight.

He had more power than Belal, but "better striking" is questionable. Belals boxing was beautiful against leon. He made boxer wrestlers great again.

 

[gentel]

• Usman's knees and general athleticism deteriorating with age, especially true for him because of all the mileage from wrestling
• Leon cheating with fence grabs and probably a lot else
• Broken mentality after getting knocked out

 

[TerraRayzing]

• Usman's knees and general athleticism deteriorating with age, especially true for him because of all the mileage from wrestling
• Leon cheating with fence grabs and probably a lot else
• Broken mentality after getting knocked out

Best version of Leon vs Best version of Usman, Usman wins, right?
There was a lot going against Usman in the trilogy, dude shouldn't have taken it that soon after a bad KO.

 

[TerraRayzing]

belal is usman 2.0, just younger and less explosive but equally boring

Usman vs Colby 1, 2, Burns and the second Masvidal 2 were highly entertaining. I also loved his domination against Woodley. Not the most exciting but in terms of dominance and skill, it was amazing.

 

[laleggenda27]

Usman is past his prime and doesn't have the knees to wrestle anymore. Simple as that.

 

[RockyLockridge]

because leon won instead of him

 

[TempleoftheDog]

He was drinking the “Usman is the WW GOAT”, nonsense.

Usman was never even passed Hughes, imo. Let alone GSP.

And being the champion and calling out Masvidal for a rematch made me fucking ill. It’s a huge black eye on his legacy.