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
Rockhold vs Costa – Round 2
Rockhold has his hands on his knees. That’s surely going to spur on Costa.
Rockhold is warned for an accidental eye poke; the pause in action allows him a moment to recover, though.
More kicks from Rockhold – to the body then head. Costa just misses with a spinning back kick to the head!
Costa smashes Rockhold with a right hook against the fence, and the referee steps in! Costa and the crowd think that’s the end of the fight, but it’s a low blow!
So, we’ll just have a pause in the action while Rockhold recovers. He’s allowed five minutes here; I’d use them all if I were him, given how tired he seems.
UFC 278 LIVE
Rockhold vs Costa – Round 2
Good straight left for Rockhold from southpaw, over the top of a Costa leg kick. And another! Both shots sting the Brazilian.
Now Rockhold gets a double-leg takedown! But Costa reverses well, standing and taking his opponent’s back. They separate, and Rockhold looks so exhausted.
Costa tags him with a harsh left hook. Now a kick to the body of the former champion. Rockhold with a spinning back kick to the body, now a 360 roundhouse kick! WOW! Odd choices for a tired fighter, but exciting.
UFC 278 LIVE
Rockhold vs Costa – Round 1
Costa is in mount but lying quite flat, and he fires off body shots.
Rockhold does well to escape and stand! Just over a minute left in the round.
Rockhold flicks out some signature kicks now! Multiple hard kicks to the body! A spinning back one in there, too.
Rockhold’s nose is bloodied, though. Costa grapples the American against the fence.
Rockhold tries for a trip. He fails but lands another hard body kick after the middleweights move into space.
A right overhand lands for Rockhold. The round ends, and Rockhold looks very tired.
UFC 278 LIVE
Rockhold vs Costa – Round 1
Rockhold with a good right straight over the top of a Costa leg kick.
Rockhold kicks low, and again. He then shoots for a takedown but seems to get clipped with a hook as he does...
Costa with big punches in the clinch! Rockhold seems to be a bit hurt...
Now Costa shoots for a takedown as Rockhold circles along the fence, and the Brazilian gets it! Who saw that coming?
Rockhold is the superior grappler, so let’s see what happens here. Costa is weighing on the 37-year-old in side control. Now he’s into mount. Rockhold tries for a guillotine choke as a counter, but Costa escapes.
UFC 278 LIVE
Is there any way this one doesn’t end with a knockout? Let’s find out... Here we go!
UFC 278 LIVE
Costa, meanwhile, was undefeated heading into his title shot against Israel Adesanya in 2020.
The Brazilian lost to Adesanya via TKO, and he has lost his only other fight since – beaten by Marvin Vettori on points last year.
UFC 278 LIVE
Rockhold’s last fight actually came at light heavyweight, where he was knocked out brutally by Jan Blachowicz. In fact, the American has lost three of his last four contests via knockout – all nasty finishes.
His last middleweight bout came in 2018.
UFC 278 LIVE
Next up is a huge clash at middleweight. Former champion Luke Rockhold returns to the Octagon after three years away, taking on former title challenger Paulo Costa.
UFC 278 LIVE
A strange fight. Dvalishvili kept up a great pace and worked very hard, but he mainly grappled and was 0/15 on takedowns.
To win on points regardless... Let’s just say, Indy Sport has long advocated the scoring of takedown defence. It should be seen more positively.
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