SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – AUGUST 20: Leon Edwards of Jamaica celebrates after winning a welterweight title bout against Kamaru Usman of Nigeria during UFC 278 at Vivint Arena on August 20, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
UFC 278: Leon Edwards scores greatest comeback KO ever on Kamaru Usman to become new welterweight champion (Video)
See fellow fighters react to the insane comeback knockout delivered by Leon Edwards to take the welterweight title from Kamaru Usman at UFC 278
In what will certainly go down as quite possibly the greatest comeback finish in the history of MMA — let alone the UFC — Leon Edwards defeated Kamaru Usman in absolute upset fashion to become the new UFC welterweight champion.
Edwards took a lot of people by surprise in the first round, becoming the first fighter in UFC history to take down Usman. Edwards also had complete control in that opening frame, looking for a submission on Usman. Unfortunately for Edwards, it was all downhill from there.
Or so it seemed.
Usman landed several notable shots in the second round before going on what seemed like a pattern of taking Edwards down repeatedly. By the end of the fourth round, Edwards looked exhausted and it seemed like it would be an easy five minutes remaining for the defending champion.
But in the literal last minute, Edwards threw up a head kick that landed and dropped Usman out cold to become the new UFC champion and upset the pound-for-pound best.
UFC 278: Pros react to Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards
Keep your head up my brother @USMAN84kg sh*t happens.
Love you ❤❤❤
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) August 21, 2022
BANG. congrats man! And I guess this is fair warning to everyone- never wear what Usman wore to media day! #ufc278 #gronkcast 🤯
— Kevin Holland (@Trailblaze2top) August 21, 2022
I think all of this is Drake’s fault!
He probably bet lots of money on Aldo and Usman.
What a jinxter! #UFC278
— Herbert Burns (@HerbertBurnsMMA) August 21, 2022
Beautiful kick . Congratulations to the new champ
— C H🖕🏽T O🇪🇨V E R A (@chitoveraUFC) August 21, 2022
This championship match was the second time Usman and Edwards met in the Octagon. The first time came at a UFC Fight Night event in December 2015, months after Usman won season 21 of The Ultimate Fighter, with Usman defeating Edwards via unanimous decision.
Usman, who won the UFC welterweight title at UFC 235, defended the belt five times prior to tonight — twice each against Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal, and once against Gilbert Burns.
Edwards entered tonight unbeaten since the loss to Usman. Edwards had won nine of his last ten (a bout with Belal Muhammad went to a no-contest), with his most recent bout prior to this title fight coming at UFC 263 last year, where he defeated Nate Diaz.
