Leon Edwards is your new UFC welterweight champion, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat with seconds remaining in the main event of UFC 278. The challenger showed off in the first round, tripping Usman to the ground and landing in the mount before transitioning to the back and hunting for a choke in the final minute. Usman dominated the next three and a half rounds.
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Leon Edwards Knocks out Kamaru Usman 2
With each successive round, Usman’s pressure, pace, and championship fight experience wore on Leon Edwards, who struggled to land with force and conceded takedowns much more easily. The challenger had a moment of success early in the fourth round, securing a waist lock and looking to sink his hooks, but Usman worked free and immediately put Edwards on the deck, grinding on him before letting loose with his hands right before the round ended.
Usman applied more pressure in the fifth and final round before the action was stopped by a low blow with less than two minutes remaining. As Usman hung out at the range, “Rocky” uncorked a left high kick that landed flush and instantly turned off Usman’s lights. Usman sat on the stool, perplexed, as Leon Edwards celebrated before the emotion washed over him. After Usman had such a long reign and controlled the majority of the fight, the rivals will almost certainly have to do it again, but Leon Edwards will be walking into the rematch with the gold around his waist.
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What a satisfying conclusion!