Kamaru Usman KO’d by Leon Edwards in huge UFC upset as Brit proves doubters wrong
Saturday night hosted a huge night of fighting, and fans also witnessed a big shock as Britain’s Leon Edwards reigned supreme and captured the UFC welterweight title. The 30-year-old was a massive underdog heading into the championship bout with the mighty Kamaru Usman at UFC 278 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Birmingham local avenged his defeat to the Nigerian from 2015 and handed him his first loss in the UFC and the second of his career overall. Edwards was much improved in his second bout with the number one pound-for-pound fighter by working hard on his wrestling game, which he used to control parts of the contest in the early stages.
He set the tone in the first round by tripping Usman and therefore became the first fighter in UFC history to successfully take down the 2010 NCAA Division Two national champion. Usman showed his class and why he had dominated the welterweight division so long as a stream of kicks and constant grappling began to wear the Brit down.
READ MORE: UFC 278 title challenger Leon Edwards says MMA saved him from being ‘in prison or dead’
As Edwards began to tire in the fourth, the 35-year-old produced a swift takedown and Usman seemed to be winning on points as the fight progressed into the fifth round.
Needing something special to turn the tables on his opponent, with the encouragement of his team along with his sheer resilience and will to win, Edwards produced a sensational head kick to stun Usman.
A nifty feint lured Usman’s head to the side and left him exposed, and Edwards took his chance and delivered the final blow. He left Usman flat on the canvas and leapt over the cage in celebration.
He was in tears as returned to the octagon and sunk to his knees as his monumental achievement began to sink in before lifting the title with pride. Edwards was overcome with emotion after the Hail Mary win, and was thrilled to prove the naysayers wrong. “You all doubted me, saying I couldn’t do it – look at me now,” said Edwards.
“I’m from the trenches. I’m built like this. I’ve been doubted my whole life but look at me now. I was born in Jamaica with nothing, I lived in a wooden shack with a zinc roof. Look at me now, champion of the world. I told you I could do it.
“Thank you to the UFC for giving the kid that was born with nothing an opportunity to do something.”
Edwards is now unbeaten in his last 11 fights and became the first British champion since Michael Bisping in 2016 and only the second in history.
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