The UFC 278 main event, featuring the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ Kamaru Usman and the British Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards, is about to begin at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, USA.
The 35-year-old Usman comes into this fight undefeated in UFC, his current winning streak stands at 15 dating back to 2015.
Birmingham native Edwards has also gone undefeated in UFC, albeit since losing to Usman seven years ago via unanimous decision. His winning streak stands at 10.
At 5:15am Edwards makes his ring walk mouthing the lyrics of his entrance song looking confident before proceeding to run around the octagon.
The pound-for-pound king dances confidently into the arena clad in black and gold, looking completely at ease as he prepares to meet his contender.
The bell rings, and the battle for the welterweight title begins as Edwards seeks to become Britain’s second ever UFC Champion against the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’, who has 19 consecutive wins to his name.
Round one
The champion stays in Edwards’ face and is justly rewarded, holding the Brit down and landing solid blows on his face and sides.
But the retreating Edwards is able to get a chance to counter and proves his mettle as a challenger, locking Usman down with his legs and getting clean punches in as Usman tries to break out.
Usman is able to turn and return some hits of his before the round ends.
Round two
Usman decides to keep his feet on the ground as the second round gets underway and lands a combination of punches on the British challenger.
Edwards tries to counter and gets the fight paused as his finger enters Usman’s eye.
The fight resumes and Edwards seems to have the upper hand and lands a hit to the head and another to the side of the champion. Usman counters and holds the Brit down who later escapes but still gets three hits to the face.
Usman then holds him down and lands solid punches on his side in the corner.
Round three
Both fighters enter this round more wary as Usman’s ankle appears injured. The ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ is able to hold Edwards to the side of the Octagon, landing kicks and punches on the Brit.
Sensing an opening, Edwards tries to counter, but Usman traps him and lands more punches on his side and head, wearing out a visibly exhausted Edwards.
Edwards is unable to counter once in this round as his attempts to raise his arms end in fresh punishment from Usman.
Round four
Edwards comes into the fourth, looking to take more risks, but his right hook catches air as Usman dodges.
The Brit succeeds in pinning Usman into the corner and lands solid hits of his own, but can’t take the champion down.
Usman breaks free and counters, reversing their positions and lands hits on Edwards lifting him up and taking him to the ground.
The Brit gets back up and tries to land punches on the champ, but Usman sees the opening and lands punches on Edwards face, defending the Brit’s attacks.
Round five: Kamaru Usman down and out
Usman chases Edwards and nearly takes him down again. Good defence from Edwards.
The crowd boos as Usman stamps on Edwards’ feet and is warned by ref Herb Dean for lack of activity.
Edwards successfully counters in the late moments of the fight and lands two successive solid hits on Usman, sending him to the canvas with a vicious kick that knocks out the Nigerian, to make him the new undisputed UFC welterweight champion.
