The fight started with both fighters throwing caution to the wind and a confident Usman landing solid blows on Edwards’ face and sides. The Brit countered and locked Usman down getting his own clean hits in
Nigerian-American mixed martial artist, Kamaru Usman has lost his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title to Leon Edwards hours after Anthony Joshua was defeated in a heavyweight boxing clash.
Leon Edwards knocked out Kamaru who is otherwise known as ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ at the UFC 278th event at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, USA on Sunday morning, August 21, 2022, to become Britain’s second ever UFC champion.
Seven years ago, Usman outpointed Edwards as part of what became a 19-fight win streak for the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’, earning him the title of UFC’s pound-for-pound king.
Edwards also came into the event on an undefeated streak, winning nine bouts in a row, while patiently waiting for his first title shot.
The Jamaica-born Briton, however, avenged his loss to Usman in 2015, leaving Utah as welterweight champion after landing a vicious kick that sent Usman sprawling to the canvas with just seconds left of their five-bout clash.
The fight started with both fighters throwing caution to the wind and a confident Usman landing solid blows on Edwards’ face and sides. The Brit countered and locked Usman down getting his own clean hits in.
In the subsequent rounds, Usman kept his feet on the ground as an ankle injury hampered his movement, but he was still able to land some solid punches on Edwards.
The fight wasn’t close as the fourth round ended with Usman winning 3-1 and only needed to avoid a knockout to retain his title and match MMA Greatest of All Time Anderson Silva with six successive title defences.