sport news Kamaru Usman drowned out by chants of 'head shot, dead' by London crowd ahead ... trends now
Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman came face-to-face for the first time since 'Rocky' obliterated the welterweight champion with a head kick to take his title last August.
With thousands of fans packed into the crowd at Magazine London, a vast space in Greenwich Peninsula a stone's throw from Saturday night's venue, the headliners made their case for victory.
Chants of 'head shot, dead' drowned out Usman's first responses, with the crowd repeating the line Edwards shouted into the mic after his stunning win last time.
The Brit has been a slow burner in terms of picking up adoration from the fans but they were right behind him here.
'It is heartfelt with the fans,' he said. 'I am proud to be adopted by the UK, Saturday I am putting on a show for the UK and Jamaica.
Leon Edwards (left) and Kamaru Usman came face to face for the first time since last year
Edwards was relaxed and seemed full of confidence ahead of the huge fight on Saturday
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'I've never lost in the UK amateur or pro, I thrive off the energy of the fans and Saturday night will be no different.
'I'm honoured to be he, I've worked hard to get here and on Saturday night I'll make you all proud. I'll put my shin across his head!
'As the king, I welcome more challengers, so whoever comes next. I'm going out to show off. This is my time, he's a good fighter but I truly believe I'm better and I can't see him coming to the UK and taking the belt back with him.
'It will mean the world, I was meant to headline with Woodley, now here we are, "and still". Everyone wrote me off but that built character. We're both pros, he's been here a long time, when we start the fight it will be
