UFC 278: The fifth round of the fight between Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards was relatively low-key. In general, Usman was the aggressor as Edwards searched for room to deploy his long-range weapons. The referee halted the game for an alleged kick below the belt by Edwards. Usman’s response to “Rocky’s” outside low kicks was noncommittal. Kamaru Usman was knocked out by Edwards’ head kick after he fainted with a right jab.
Official result: Leon Edwards def. Kamaru Usman via KO, Round 5
Also Read: “I will be a champion”: Leon Edwards claims himself as the world champion after UFC 278
Leon Edwards
Leon Edwards has shocked the whole world. With a head kick knockout late in Round 5 of the main event of UFC 278 on Saturday night, the “Rocky” tale of Edwards was brought to life.
Edwards had the first takedown of the nearly flawless champion in Round 1, but he was unable to sustain any momentum in the subsequent rounds. Usman appeared to be on his way to yet another title defense as he came close to Anderson Silva’s all-time record for most title defenses as he took control of the fight with his superior wrestling and heavy boxing combinations.
Round 5
Even though Usman’s pace slowed in Round 5, the champion was likely headed for a unanimous decision victory as Edwards appeared defeated in his corner and his team pleaded with him to pick up the pace in the decisive round.
At 4:04 in Round 5, Edwards suddenly fired off a right jab and a left head kick that instantly knocked Usman out.
Edwards shocks the world!
“Pound-for-pound. Headshot. Dead,” Edwards told UFC commentator Joe Rogan during his post-fight interview. “I said all week I felt like this is my moment. Everything that happened in the past. The last two years, the pandemic. There is no ring rust. I told you, now look at me now.”
Edwards defeated Usman, improving his record to 20-3 (1 NC). His winning streak now stands at 11. Usman lost for the first time in nine years, seeing his 19-fight winning streak suddenly come to an end.
Just a few seconds later than Usman’s own finish of Colby Covington in 2019 was the fourth fastest finish in a championship fight.
Usman’s outlook on the future remained positive. The former champion tweeted that he would return to victory with a vengeance.
Also Read: Dana White: Khamzat Chimaev favourite for title after UFC 279 win, but don’t count out Nate Diaz
UFC 278: Post Fight Interview
During a post-fight press conference with the media, UFC president Dana White insisted on a trilogy. White expressed his desire to watch the rubber match in England and suggested Wembley as the location.
“I thought that Usman fought the perfect fight,” White said. “You think of everything that was on the line for Usman tonight. All night, Usman fought with complete and total confidence. Despite not having the most fan-friendly style, he was consistently landing powerful body, head, and elbow blows. Till the very end, he could not have performed a more flawless fight.
He feels that UFC fans have not yet seen Edwards at his best. He claimed that despite giving his worst effort, Usman’s best performance was still defeated by a knockout.
“That was one of my worst performances out there,” Edwards said at the presser. “I did not feel good in there tonight. I went out there and knocked out the pound-for-pound.
“My body just wasn’t reacting how it was meant to react. I don’t know if it was the altitude or what it was. But even backstage watching other fighters on the TV, everyone was getting tired and gassing out. Like Luke [Rockhold] and everybody. I was wondering why everybody was tiring out. After the first round, I felt it. I felt my body wasn’t reacting. It wasn’t a cardio issue, it was more like my body wasn’t physically reacting.
“That was the best he had to offer. That was the worst I had to offer and I still knocked him out.”
What’s Next?
In the event that “Gamebred” returns to his winning ways, Edwards also expressed interest in facing Masvidal in the United Kingdom.
In addition, the fight between Paulo Costa and Rockhold lasted 15 exhausting minutes before Costa was declared the victor. Rockhold gave everything he had to the fight, even smearing blood on Costa’s face in the dying seconds. With a convincing victory over Jose Aldo, Merab Dvalishvili established himself as the top contender at bantamweight. However, the Georgian native said nothing to any talk of facing his friend and teammate, current champion Aljamain Sterling, anytime soon.
Also Read: “I think they f—ked up” – Leon Edwards does not critical of Diaz vs. Khamzat match-up at UFC 279
UFC 278 card and results
- Leon Edwards (c) def. Kamaru Usman via fifth-round knockout (head kick)
- Paulo Costa def. Luke Rockhold via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Merab Dvalishvili def. Jose Aldo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Lucie Pudilova def. Wu Yanan via second-round TKO (elbows)
- Tyson Pedro def. Harry Hunsucker via first-round TKO (punches)
- Marcin Tybura def. Alexander Romanov via majority decision (29-28, 28-29, 28-28)
- Jared Gordon def. Leonardo Santos via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Sean Woodson vs. Luis Saldana ruled a split draw (29-27, 27-29, 28-28)
- Ange Loosa def. A.J. Fletcher via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Amir Albazi def. Francisco Figueiredo via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
- Aori Qileng def. Jay Perrin via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Victor Altamirano def. Daniel Da Silva via first-round TKO (punches)
