SALT LAKE CITY — Leon Edwards dropped Kamaru Usman with a kick to the top and neck within the closing minute of the fifth spherical to win the welterweight championship at UFC 278 on Saturday evening.
Usman seemed to be seconds away from a sixteenth consecutive victory, which might have tied an all-time UFC file, earlier than Edwards got here up with the gorgeous end simply in time. He delivered the knockout blow with 56 seconds left within the bout.
“That crosshead kick landed completely,” Edwards stated.
Edwards (20-3) is undefeated relationship again to his earlier bout with Usman in 2015. The British fighter rose to No. 2 within the welterweight division whereas accumulating 9 wins in that stretch forward of the title bout.
Usman (20-2) lived as much as his fame because the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on this planet for a lot of the bout. The Nigerian weathered a late first-round takedown and turned the tables with a late second-round takedown. Usman managed place all through the third spherical, incomes two extra takedowns, and led 39-37 on the judges’ scorecards after 4 rounds. He appeared on his strategy to a win by unanimous determination earlier than Edwards rallied within the closing spherical.
“The octagon belongs to no person,” Edwards stated. “No man is supposed to carry the belt for that lengthy. I stated all week I felt like this was my second. That is the way it was meant to play out.”
Edwards nonetheless believes he has a lot left to show though he's now the champion. He talked about repeatedly how he didn’t like how his physique reacted to Usman’s assaults all through all 5 rounds.
“That wasn’t my greatest efficiency, and I didn't really feel myself on this,” Edwards stated. “I really feel like I've way more to supply.”
UFC’s first pay-per-view occasion in Utah drew 18,321 followers and $4.2 million in stay gate income, a Vivint Enviornment file. It marked the twenty third consecutive sellout for the UFC.
Dana White praised the sector ambiance and stated the UFC might return to Utah as early as 2023.
“You can put this crowd up there with anyone tonight,” White stated.
Paulo Costa prevailed over former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold in a unanimous determination within the middleweight bout. Costa (14-2) had misplaced two straight bouts coming into Salt Lake Metropolis.
Rockhold (16-5) returned to the octagon for the primary time in three years and his rust confirmed because the bout progressed. Costa greater than doubled Rockhold in complete strikes by means of the primary two rounds and ultimately left him with a bloodied mouth within the third spherical. Rockhold wiped his personal blood over Costa’s face within the spherical’s closing seconds whereas each fighters have been locked in a stalemate on the bottom.
“I didn’t see it within the second of the combat. I simply felt one thing on my face,” Costa stated. “However once I noticed, it was very disgusting. … It was a bizarre second.”
Merab Dvalishvili prevailed over former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo in a unanimous determination within the males’s bantamweight bout, incomes his eighth straight win. Aldo (31-8) had vocal help from the group however wore down below relentless stress from Dvalishvili (15-4) over three rounds.
Lucie Pudilova beat Wu Yanan in the principle card girls’s bantamweight bout for her third straight win. Yanan suffered her fourth straight loss. Pudilova earned a TKO on the 4:04 mark within the second spherical after dragging Yanan to the canvas and repeatedly smashing elbows into her from a again mount.
Tyson Pedro earned a TKO over Harry Hunsucker 1:05 into the primary spherical within the mild heavyweight bout to spherical out the principle card bouts.
Marcin Tybura handed Alexandr Romanov his first profession UFC loss within the heavyweight bout, successful by majority determination. Romanov (18-1) slammed Tybura (23-7) to the canvas a number of instances within the first spherical however ran out of steam within the remaining two rounds.
Sean Woodson and Luis Saldana fought to a uncommon break up attract a featherweight preliminary bout earlier within the night. It was the primary profession draw for each fighters.
Post a Comment