Leon Edwards’ last minute head kick of Kamaru Usman in a fight he was about to lose is the stuff that happens once every two or three decades. Rarely in professional sports does an athlete or team turn a certain loss into a decisive victory as Edwards did on Saturday at Vivint Arena in the main event of UFC 278 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
After a strong first round which he was clearly winning, Edwards struggled most of the rest of the way. Usman, who entered the fight with 15 consecutive wins in the UFC, was one minute away from tying Anderson Silva’s promotional record of 16 consecutive wins. It is arguably the greatest record in the sport.
At the end of the fourth round, Edwards’ corner was furious at what seemed to be an acceptance of his fate.
“Come on, man! What’s wrong with you?!” shouted one of the trainers. At that time, UFC broadcaster Din Thomas said Edwards appeared broken.
But for most of the fifth round, the harsh comments didn’t work because nothing changed. As the clock ticked towards one minute, Edwards showed no urgency. UFC broadcaster Daniel Cormier suggested that Edwards was willing to run out the clock and make it the full five rounds to get a moral victory.
In the blink of an eye, Edwards changed and altered the course of MMA history.
He threw a jab, which was not a particularly terrible or hard blow. But many fighters throw that jab to try to blindside an opponent before following up with a right hand that they hope will hurt.
That’s what Edwards’ jab seemed designed to do, and boy, did it ever lead to some damage.
Usman pressed a right, which turned out to be a huge mistake. Because even before Edwards’ jab landed, he was throwing the kick. Usman pressed to the exact spot where the kick was coming.
He landed on the chin and Usman was down and out in an instant.
Leon Edwards of Jamaica lands a front kick to Kamaru Usman of Nigeria in the UFC welterweight championship fight during the UFC 278 event at Vivint Arena on August 20, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
His championship reign came to an end, his perch at the top of the pound-for-pound list and his chance to tie Silva’s consecutive wins record, which now looks ever more difficult to approach, let alone surpass.
Edwards became the first Jamaican-born UFC champion with the wildest finish of a UFC title fight ever.
There are few plays in sports that match it. In an NFL game in 1978, the New York Giants had the ball with 31 seconds and a 17-12 lead over the Philadelphia Eagles. Knees were not allowed at that point, but the Eagles had no timeouts left. The only thing Giants cornerback Joe Pisarcik had to do was make sure he made a clean hand-off to Larry Csonka. His attempt to pass to Csonka was bad, and the ball was loose. Eagles defensive back Herman Edwards intercepted the game and took it in for a win unlike any in NFL history.
But that was a meaningless late season game between two bad teams.
Edwards scored his dramatic victory over one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time as the clock was running out and his dreams of lifting the belt were about to be snuffed out.
“I was listening to the commentary and [broadcasters Joe] Rogan and [Jon] Anik and DC [Daniel Cormier] were dead on with everything they were saying on what Edwards needed to do and what he should be doing it,” said UFC president, Dana Said Gwyn. “As soon as they said it, Edwards lands the head kick.
“You think about everything that was on the line for Usman tonight – and Usman fought with complete and utter confidence all night – and he fought the perfect fight. … He could not have fought a more perfect battle until the last minute.”
Edwards fought a perfect first round. He was the first man to take Usman down in Usman’s UFC career in the first, and it was significant because he ended up getting Usman back.
For a brief period, it looked like he might choke Usman out in the first, but the champion stayed calm and worked his way out of it. Still, Edwards clearly won the first.
And then Usman turned into Usman again. He mixed the attacking pressure of the forwards with punches, elbows and takedowns and was beating Edwards in every aspect of the game over Rounds 2, 3 and 4 and in the first four minutes of the fifth.
But the rounds are five minutes long, not four, and Edwards still had time. It took almost everything, but it was achieved in a resounding fashion.
When the kick landed, Edwards knew he had won it. He immediately raised his arms in the air and began to celebrate even before referee Herb Dean could officially call it off.
Leon Edwards of Jamaica reacts after defeating Kamaru Usman of Nigeria by KO in the UFC welterweight championship fight during the UFC 278 event at Vivint Arena on August 20, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
The suddenness of the ending in a championship moment was similar to Bill Mazeroski’s bottom of the ninth home run for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series to defeat the New York Yankees.
That wasn’t the same, though, because Mazeroski had the lead in the bottom of the ninth and the game was tied 9-9 when he came to the plate.
Villanova’s Kris Jenkins hit a three-pointer from the top of the key in 2016 as the buzzer sounded to defeat North Carolina and win the NCAA men’s basketball championship for the Wildcats. But if he had missed, the game would have gone to overtime. Similarly, in 1983, Lorenzo Charles’ dunk with one second left led North Carolina State to a national championship win over Houston, but if he didn’t put it in, the game was going to overtime.
Edwards’ victory will go down not only as the most dramatic in UFC history but in all of sports history given the stakes and circumstances.
“All the doubters said we couldn’t do it,” a delighted Edwards said. “You all said I couldn’t do it. Well, look at me now. Look at me now!”
It’s on top of the world, an amazing story about a child who seemed destined to die early or spend much of his life in prison given the circumstances of his birth and early life. But he found MMA and, well, he and MMA are all the better for it.
In the news conference after the fight, his voice was scary, and he apologizes because he has been crying.
There isn’t much of a better rags-to-riches story than this guy.
“Everyone knows my past but I’ve said all week that’s the way it was meant to go to build me into the man I am today,” he said.
The man he is today is the UFC welterweight champion of the world.
Who has Leon Edwards lost to?
Since December 2015, Edwards has not lost. In the nearly seven years since then, Edwards has gone 10-0 with one no contest. Other wins included Nate Diaz, Rafael dos Anjos and Donald Cerrone. The December 2015 loss came against none other than Usman.
How many KO’s does Leon Edwards have? On the same subject : USFL Championship Game odds: Gambling patterns, lines, graphics.
When did Usman and Edwards first fight?
Usman and Edwards first met in December 2015 on the early prelims of a Fight Night card. Usman won by unanimous decision and continued his warpath to welterweight supremacy.
Who won UFC 278 results?
UFC 278 results highlights: Leon Edwards stuns Kamaru Usman with last minute knockout to claim world title. To see also : 10 Best Anime -Based Video Games | Eye Watch.
Where is UFC 278?
Who won Edwards vs Usman 2? Edwards dominated most of the fight before a head kick in the last minute of the fight landed flat and knocked Usman out cold. The loss snapped Usman’s 19-fight winning streak and ended one of the most dominant reigns of the modern era. To see also : The 10 must play 2022 video games so far. Edwards extended his own winning streak to 10.
Who won UFC Tonight 278?
Paulo Costa dominates the co-main event of UFC 278. Paulo Costa wins his fight against Luke Rockhold by unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC 278.
How much are UFC 278 tickets?
UFC 278 ticket prices for currently scheduled events start as low as $38.00 with the most expensive prices ranging up to $4166.00. The average price to attend a UFC 278 event is around $269.50.
Do UFC fighters get a salary?
The average UFC fighter made $160,022 in 2020, up from an average earnings of $147,965 in 2020.
How much do UFC fighters earn per match? According to International Business Times, there are three salary tiers that a UFC fighter can fall into: low, medium and high, with the lowest earners taking home between $10,000 and $30,000, and the highest tier raking in between $500,000 and $3,000,000 per fight.
Do fighters still get paid if they lose?
Yes, professional boxers get paid whether they win or lose a fight. In almost all cases, both fighters will receive compensation regardless of the outcome.
How much does Bruce Buffer make?
Bruce Buffer Sportekz salary February 2020: $1 million annual earnings. He is the highest paid ring announcer.
How much does Michael Buffer make per say? How much does Michael Buffer do to say “Let’s get ready for a rumble”? Depending on the game, Buffer earns between $25,000 and $100,000 every time he says those famous five words. On a handful of very rare occasions, Buffer has received $1 million.
How much does Michael Buffer make per fight?
Michael Buffer net worth He says he makes between $25,000 and $100,000 per fight, although he has sometimes made up to $1 million. The majority of his career earnings have actually come from trademarking his catchphrase.
How much does Bruce Buffer earn per fight?
Bruce Buffer UFC Salary Buffer is said to typically be paid $50,000 per UFC fight, while he can make up to $100,000 for bigger events, such as UFC 274 and other PPVs. That’s not bad for someone who gets to stand in the octagon and not get punched in the face. Buffer first started with the UFC in 1996.
