Edwards defeats Kamaru Usman to claim UFC 278 title

England’s Leon Edwards has defeated Kamaru Usman to claim the UFC welterweight championship title.

Edwards handed Kamaru his first UFC career loss at the Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah on Sunday morning.

The 30-year-old Briton knocked out the “Nigerian Nightmare” to also secure his first UFC career title.

From the beginning of the bout, Edwards proved to be a hard nut for Kamaru to crack.

The Jamaican-born British professional mixed martial artist would later deliver a head-kick knockout to Kamaru a few minutes to the end of the fifth round to round up his dominance in the Octagon.

#UFC278 results: Leon Edwards def. Kamaru Usman via KO (head kick) – Round 5, 4:04https://t.co/ycGNzXSi3e pic.twitter.com/MDOdcabyIr

— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) August 21, 2022

Advertisement

Round one saw the champion being taken down in the Octagon for the first time in history by Edwards.

Usman had delivered a side kick to Edwards’ leg which landed the Briton on his back — less than two minutes into the fight.

The Nigerian immediately followed the Briton down and landed him a nice elbow. Edwards found his feet shortly after as Usman also came out guns blazing in round 2.

Usman was more dominant in the third round than in the previous ones.

Edwards, however, changed the tempo of the fight in round four with several attempts at a takedown which Usman easily wriggled himself off.

The Briton handed the Nigerian a defeat via KO (head-kick) in round 5 to become the new UFC welterweight champion.

With the win, Edwards becomes the second-ever British champion in UFC history.

Kamaru’s loss came a few hours after Anthony Joshua was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk in the boxing heavyweight bout.

Photo credit: NMA fight