SALT LAKE CITY – UFC president Dana White expects to ebook a trilogy struggle between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman subsequent, it’s only a matter of figuring out the logistics.

After Edwards (19-Three MMA, 11-2 UFC) claimed the welterweight title from Usman (20-2 MMA, 15-1 UFC) with a gorgeous head kick knockout within the fifth spherical of Saturday’s UFC 278 headliner at Vivint Area, a complete new world of alternative has opened up for the promotion in England.

The UFC has by no means hosted a stadium occasion on Edwards’ residence soil, however White admits there’s some critical temptation to host the rubber match at Wembley Stadium in London, which has a capability of roughly 90,000. Traditionally, nevertheless, White has been very immune to open-air venues, and that hasn’t essentially modified.

“How do you not do – f*ck, Wembley,” White instructed MMA Junkie and different reporters post-fight on the UFC 278 post-fight information convention. “I don’t know. Yeah (I wish to do it in England). … We might go to England at any time when the hell we wish to now. We might go to England – we had been promoting out England earlier than. Now you take a look at, do you do an even bigger enviornment? I’m scared to go exterior, and I’m positively scared to go exterior in England. I’m critical, however joking about England. Something is feasible in England now. It could be enjoyable, however it’s scary on the identical time. The climate isn’t the best in England.”

Happily for White, the promotion may have a while to determine the most effective path ahead. Usman is more likely to be dealt a large medical suspension after such a violent knockout, and with the UFC calendar already booked up into the primary month of 2023, White mentioned there isn’t essentially a rush to pin one thing down.

“I don’t suppose (Edwards) must sit and wait anyway because of the knockout,” White mentioned. “I don’t suppose he must wait that lengthy. He must return into camp and begin coaching anyway. Initially, we’d should have the date. We’re all booked up all the way in which to – I feel we’re booked up into January now. There will likely be no ready for him, even when it’s a rematch.”

White mentioned Edwards’ title-winning knockout was one other reflection of the loopy, unpredictable nature of MMA. He thought Usman was effectively on his approach to recording one more title protection, however within the blink of an eye fixed, every little thing modified.

“You consider every little thing that was on the road for Usman tonight, and Usman fought with absolute and whole confidence all evening,” White mentioned. “He fought the right struggle. Won’t be probably the most fan-friendly type, however he was touchdown huge pictures to the physique, huge pictures to the pinnacle, elbows. Couldn’t have fought a extra good struggle till the final minute.

“It’s how loopy the game is. It’s what makes this sport the best sport on the earth. That you would be able to sit by means of 4 rounds and 4 minutes and that may occur in a struggle. Something is feasible on this sport. Each time we make a struggle and it’s like, ‘This can be a lopsided, one-sided f*cking – there are not any lopsided, one-sided fights on this sport. Something is feasible. I mentioned it to you guys this week, the issue with this struggle is individuals received’t give Leon sufficient credit score and he’s a really harmful opponent. Wow.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 278.