Leon Edwards has compared his UFC 278 foe Kamaru Usman to Terry Crews after implying that the champion has ‘changed’.

This weekend at UFC 278 in Salt Lake City, Leon Edwards has the opportunity to become just the second British world champion in UFC history. The first, Michael Bisping, achieved his dream six years ago at UFC 199, and the nation has been waiting patiently for someone to build on that success.

Darren Till tried and failed to take the UFC welterweight championship away from Tyron Woodley back in 2018 and now, four years later, the very same belt will be up for grabs when ‘Rocky’ challenges Kamaru Usman - the man who defeated Woodley just six months after Till had his crack at the strap.

The popular opinion tends to be that Kamaru Usman is the clear favourite, given that he holds the distinction of being one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in mixed martial arts.

Alas, it’s near-enough impossible to rule a challenger out in a contest as big as this one, and Edwards recently noted during an interview with Ariel Helwani that he thinks the fame and adulation that comes with being champion has changed ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’.

“You know Terry Crews from White Chicks? [Kamaru Usman] looks like that guy from White Chicks. He’s changed, Ariel, never got a t-shirt on. I don’t know what’s going on. The money has gotten to his head.”

Usman’s star power recently landed him a spot in the upcoming Black Panther sequel ‘Wakanda Forever’.

What happened in Orlando?

Back in December 2015, Usman and Edwards squared off in what proved to be an intriguing fight down in Florida.

Usman was able to edge out the win largely due to his dominant wrestling style, but both men have evolved a great deal over the course of the last seven years.

Edwards is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the sport today whereas Usman has been leaning on his improved striking skills in the latest chapter of his career.

Whatever happens this weekend, we’re pretty sure the rematch isn’t going to be dull; far from it, in fact.