Leon Edwards produced a stunning knockout victory over Kamaru Usman to become the welterweight champion at UFC 278 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Brit was behind on points as the fight reached its climax, however, Edwards had other ides as he drew Usman into a lean to his right before producing a stunning kick to the jaw of the defending champion.
Edwards is the second ever Brit to become UFC champion after Michael Bisping in 2016. This also signalled the end to Usman’s astonishing win streak of 15 fights.
Heading into the fight, Edwards was the underdog after losing to Usman back in 2015.
In the first round, Edwards became the first man to complete a takedown on Usman in UFC history.
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The Nigerian responded well in the second and third round as he pressured Edwards with a flurry of hits whilst dictating the fight with his tremendous grappling skills.
Edwards’s team told the Brit to up his game and ‘get his hands moving’ at the end of the third round in a bid to galvanise their man.
Usman then took control of the fourth round, again with his grappling skills as Edwards looked spent.
Towards the end of the fight, the writing seemed to be on the wall for Edwards as he required something special to win the bout. And boy did he deliver.
Edwards landed a spectacular kick which left Usman on the canvas.
He then celebrated with the strut made famous by Conor McGregor.
UFC commentator Joe Rogan described the kick by Edwards as potentially the best he has ever seen and labelled the shock win by 30-year-old as arguably the biggest upset in the sport’s history.
After the fight, Edwards said: “I was born in Jamaica with nothing. I lived in a wooden shed with a zinc roof. Look at me now.
“Pound for pound, head shot, dead. That's it.
“I said it's possible, we can win a belt from the UK, I told you.”
He then paid tribute to his mother.
Edwards continued: “I want to first of all thank god. Mum, I love you, I told you I'd do it for you, I told you I'd change your life.
“All week I felt like this is my moment, everything in the past, the two years, the pandemic, look at me now, I'm champion of the world.
“Thank you Dana [White - UFC president], and to the UFC for giving an opportunity to a kid who was born with nothing, thank you.”
Later on, Edwards was captured on camera in tears as he shared a wonderful moment with his mother on a video call, he was heard saying: “I told you mum, I would do it.”
Topics: Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards, MMA, UFC
Marcus Chan