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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

Alex Pattle
Combat Sports Correspondent
Sunday 21 August 2022 17:12 BST
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Leon Edwards KOs Kamaru Usman to win UFC welterweight title at UFC 278

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:

Pinned

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

Alex Pattle21 August 2022 06:36

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)

Alex Pattle21 August 2022 06:45

UFC 278 LIVE

Edwards is bawling.

Alex Pattle21 August 2022 06:17

UFC 278 LIVE

Edwards is on the phone to his mum backstage, saying tearfully: “I told you, mum.”

Alex Pattle21 August 2022 06:16

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.”

Alex Pattle21 August 2022 06:04

UFC 278 LIVE

Edwards: “I told you, mum, I’d change our lives.”

Alex Pattle21 August 2022 06:04

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.”

Alex Pattle21 August 2022 06:03

UFC 278 LIVE

Edwards: “It doesn’t matter. From the trenches. I’m built like this. I go until the final bell.”

Alex Pattle21 August 2022 06:02

UFC 278 LIVE

Leon Edwards def. Kamaru Usman via fifth-round KO (head kick, 4:04).

Alex Pattle21 August 2022 06:01

UFC 278 LIVE

Edwards is crying.

Alex Pattle21 August 2022 06:00

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