Usman: Edwards not fighting for title because he 'shit the bed' vs. Diaz

UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman thinks he knows why Leon Edwards isn't getting the next title shot.

Usman said it comes down to Edwards' most recent performance: a dominant decision win over Nate Diaz in June, but one that will be remembered for a final-minute rally in which Diaz badly rocked his heavily favored opponent.

"You can't go out there and do that with Nate Diaz," Usman said during an interview with former UFC champion Daniel Cormier earlier this week. "You can't do that. ... You have to seal the deal.

"For a while, (Edwards) did OK," Usman added. "But then all of a sudden, the 25th minute, you shit the bed. You can't do that."

Many believe Edwards deserves a shot at the welterweight belt, as he's riding a 10-fight unbeaten streak and hasn't fallen short since he fought Usman in 2015.

But the UFC has yet to grant the Brit that opportunity. He's booked to face Jorge Masvidal at UFC 269 in December, and he'll have to get past "Gamebred" to even have a chance of securing a title shot in the near future.

Meanwhile, Usman is set to defend his belt against Colby Covington in November.

Usman said if Edwards made a statement by finishing Diaz, he "absolutely" would've gotten the next title shot over Covington.

"This is a business," he said. "It's a partnership between us and the promotion. ... You have to give them something to work with. You have to give them something to sell. And they have thrown you bone after bone after bone."

Usman added that Diaz nearly stopping Edwards ultimately forced him to go with Covington - a "dance partner who's going to run his mouth," he said - for his next title defense.

Usman and Covington are scheduled to meet in a highly anticipated rematch in the UFC 268 main event at Madison Square Garden in New York on Nov. 6.