UFC 278 LIVE results: Leon Edwards knocks out Kamaru Usman with head kick in final minute
Re-live updates as Edwards became Britain’s second ever UFC champion with a stunning, late knockout
Leon Edwards won the UFC welterweight title in the most stunning fashion on Saturday night, knocking Kamaru Usman out cold with one minute left in the main event of UFC 278. Edwards was down on all three judges’ scorecards and looked to have nothing left, but he put the champion away with a perfect head kick to become Britain’s second ever UFC champion. In doing so, Edwards dethroned the UFC’s consensus pound-for-pound king and avenged a decision loss to the Nigerian-American from 2015.
After a bright start for Jamaican-born Edwards, with the 30-year-old taking down Usman in the first round, the champion looked to be on course for yet another victory. No UFC fighter had ever scored an official takedown of the “Nigerian Nightmare” before, but Edwards could not build on that early moment – which was shocking enough and nearly resulted in a submission – as Usman employed his grappling prowess to build a lead over the next three rounds.
But with a minute left in the final frame, with Edwards down three rounds to one, the Briton feinted a one-two with his hands, leading Usman to dip his head to the right. It was there that his skull met the shin of Edwards, putting Usman out cold. “I’m champion of the world, champion of the world, look at me now,” Edwards said tearfully. “I was born in Jamaica with nothing. I lived in a wooden shack with a zinc roof. I told you, mum, I’d change our lives.” Re-live the UFC 278 main event, main card and prelims, below:
UFC 278 LIVE
With Edwards down three rounds to one, the Briton feinted a one-two with his hands, leading Usman to dip his head to the right.
It was there that his skull met the shin of Edwards, who put Usman out cold.
Full report:
Leon Edwards knocks Kamaru Usman out cold to win UFC title at the death
Edwards was down on all three judges’ scorecards but put Usman away to become Britain’s second ever UFC champion in a stunning moment at UFC 278
UFC 278 – full results
Main card
Leon Edwards def. Kamaru Usman (C) via fifth-round KO (head kick, 4:04)
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, 4:04)
Tyson Pedro def. Harry Hunsucker via first-round TKO (body kick and ground strikes, 1:05)
Prelims
Marcin Tybura def. Alexandr Romanov via majority decision (29-29, 29-28, 28-28)
Jared Gordon def. Leonardo Santos via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Sean Woodson vs Luis Saldana ends as split draw (29-27, 27-29, 28-28)
Ange Loosa def. AJ Fletcher via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Early prelims
Amir Albazi def. Francisco Figueiredo via first-round submission (rear naked choke, 4:34)
Aoriqileng def. Jay Perrin via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Victor Altamirano def. Daniel da Silva via first-round TKO (ground strikes, 3:39)
UFC 278 LIVE
Edwards is on the phone to his mum backstage, saying tearfully: “I told you, mum.”
UFC 278 LIVE
Edwards: “World champion, world champion, look at me now. I was born in Jamaica with nothing. I lived in a wood shack with a zinc roof.”
UFC 278 LIVE
Edwards: “I told you, mum, I’d change our lives.”
UFC 278 LIVE
Edwards: “‘Pound-for-pound’, headshot, dead.
“I told you we could win a belt from the UK, now look at me. There is no pound-for-pound, the belt belongs to nobody.”
UFC 278 LIVE
Edwards: “It doesn’t matter. From the trenches. I’m built like this. I go until the final bell.”
UFC 278 LIVE
Leon Edwards def. Kamaru Usman via fifth-round KO (head kick, 4:04).
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies