L. Edwards (right) won the welterweight belt in UFC 278. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Historic. In the main fight of UFC 278, held this Saturday (20), in Salt Lake City (USA), Leon edwards shocked the world in the welterweight (up to 77kg) title fight against Kamaru Usman. Controlled for much of the confrontation, the challenger staged a historic comeback and obliterated the Nigerian with an overwhelming high kick in the final minute of the last round. The knockout established the Englishman as the new champion of the division, and redeemed the athlete from the defeat he suffered against his rival in 2015.
With the victory, Edwards ends Usman's reign, which began in 2019. In addition to the victory, the new king of the category extends his great phase, reaching the mark of 10 fights without defeat.
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Surprised by Leon's withering attack, Usman suffers his second setback as a professional in MMA. The only stumble in the Nigerian's career had occurred in 2013, when he was competing in his second commitment in the sport.
Deleted in UFC 278, Kamaru also missed the opportunity to reach a historic milestone in Ultimate. If he left the Octagon with victory, the Nigerian would equal Anderson Silva as the longest winning streak in the organization, with 16.
'Owner of the party', Edwards recovered from the defeat suffered by Usman in 2015. In the first meeting, the former champion had won the judges' unanimous decision.
The fight
The confrontation began with Edwards taking the initiative with a front kick, which was defended by the champion. The challenger continued throwing low kicks, trying to undermine Usman's base, who saved his attacks. With just over a minute left, Kamaru looked for a takedown, but Leon protected himself. With almost two minutes of confrontation, Edwards attempted a trip, but ended up losing his balance and falling underneath the Nigerian. The Englishman managed to stay on his feet, but Usman remained glued to his opponent. The champion pressed his opponent against the bars and tried to take the Englishman to the ground. With two minutes left in the stage, Leon surprised and reversed the situation, taking down the Nigerian. On top, Edwards tried to find the opening for a choke. The challenger reached the back and was trying to finish in the fast lane. The champion resisted and prevented the advancement of his opponent's actions, until the timer ran to zero.
In the second stage, Edwards was the first to attack, with a kick and a series of crosses. The champion responded with uppers and started to press the challenger against the bars. In the first minute, the Nigerian attacked with hooks and crosses and Leon managed to escape. After almost two minutes, the fighters began exchanging blows in the center of the octagon. Usman scored with two jabs and Edwards responded with a straight shot. With just over two minutes remaining until the end of the round, Kamaru once again used grappling and pressed his opponent against the bars. Leon moved away and tried a takedown, but the Nigerian protected himself well. In the final seconds, Usman began to attack his opponent with powerful hooks to the waistline and, subsequently, took the Englishman to the ground. The round ended with the champion attacking with ground and pound.
The third round began with Edwards throwing a high kick, which exploded in the champion's guard. With just over a minute left, Kamaru managed to get a takedown on the Englishman. Leon managed to stand, but was pressed against the bars. Usman got to the back and threw knees at his opponent's thigh. Halfway through the round, the challenger managed to free himself. Usman was more aggressive and, after hitting his opponent with crosses, he took his opponent to the ground for the second time in the stage. With one minute remaining, Kamaru controlled the actions and prevented his rival from recovering. The round ended with the Englishman standing and receiving a cross from his opponent.
In the fourth round, the first attack came from Edwards, with a low kick. Usman connected with a clean jab to the challenger's face, who responded with a front kick. Still in the first minute, Leon dodged an attack from the champion and managed to get to his back. Kamaru tried to free himself, but the Englishman gave no space, pressing the Nigerian against the bars. After Leon's attack, Usman managed to move away and, subsequently, managed to take down his opponent and started attacking him with ground and pound. On top, the Nigerian asserted his advantage and managed the outcome of the round. Leon managed to stay on his feet, but the champion remained 'glued' to his rival. In the final seconds, Usman began attacking the Englishman with punch combinations, but there was no more time.
The champion was the first to attack in the last round, with a sequence of jabs. Usman surrounded Edwards and looked for the best moment to attack. With just over a minute left, Kamaru attempted a takedown, but the Englishman defended himself. The Nigerian kept his opponent's back against the bars and controlled the actions. With two minutes left in the round, Edwards landed a clean right to the champion's face. Afterwards, the fight was stopped due to a low kick applied by the challenger. In the final minute, Edwards connected with a high kick that exploded on the Nigerian's head, leading his opponent to an immediate knockout.
UFC 278 results
MAIN CARD
Welterweight (up to 77kg): Leon edwards derrotou Kamaru Usman by knockout at 4m04s of R5 – Fight for the belt
Average weight (up to 83,9kg): Paulo borrachinha derrotou Luke Rockhold in the unanimous decision of the judges (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Bantam weight (up to 61,2kg): Merab Dvalishvili derrotou José Aldo in the unanimous decision of the judges (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Bantam weight (up to 61,2kg): Lucie Pudilova derrotou Wu Yanan by technical knockout at 4m04s of R2
Light heavyweight (up to 93kg): Tyson Peter derrotou Harry Hunsucker by technical knockout at 1m05s of R1
PRELIMINARY CARD
Heavy weight (up to 120,2kg): Marcin tybura defeated Alexandr Romano by majority decision of the judges (29-28, 28-29, 28-28)
Light weight (up to 70,3kg.): Jared gordon derrotou Leo Santos in the unanimous decision of the judges (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Featherweight (up to 65,7kg): Sean Woodson and Luís Saldaña finished in a draw (29-27, 27-29, 28-28)
Welterweight (up to 77kg): Ange Loosa derrotou AJ Fletcher in the unanimous decision of the judges (29-27, 29-28,29-28)
Flyweight (up to 56,7kg): amir albazi derrotou Francisco Figueredo via submission (rear naked choke) at 4m31s
Bantam weight (up to 61,2kg): AoriQileng derrotou Jay Perrin in the unanimous decision of the judges (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Flyweight (up to 56,7kg): Victor Altamirano derrotou Daniel Miojo by technical knockout (punches) at 3:39 of R1
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