Leon Edwards knocks out Kamaru Usman in shocking fashion to wins UFC welterweight title.

Leon Edwards waited for his opportunity at a title shot. Delays, opponent changes, and a pandemic all halted his attempt at gold. Finally receiving his shot, “Rocky” made the most of it.

At UFC 278 in Utah, Edwards knocked out Kamaru Usman to win the UFC welterweight title. He landed a perfectly-timed kick to the face of Usman after he was considered down and out in the fight.

“I told you I could do it. Look at me now,” Edwards stated after the fight. Pound for pound, what?”

Edwards was ready to prove he was a different fighter compared to when he lost to Usman in 2015. He did that early in the first when he was the first fighter to take Usman down in his career. It was a shocking moment in front of a packed crowd in Vivint Arena.

Kamaru Usman

Following that, however, Usman took control. He took down Edwards several times, landing sharp elbows in the process. Edwards’ corner was animated between rounds, chastising Edwards for being lackadaisical.

While he tried his best, Usman had a significant edge. Edwards’ takedown defense improved over time, but it appears as if Usman was going to walk away with the win.

There was controversy when Edwards was caught holding the cage. Usman also had to deal with an eye poke and and a below the belt shot. In the fifth, Edwards fainted a punch, and then landed one of the biggest kicks in UFC history. The crowd was shocked with what they saw.

With Usman losing, Anderson Silva’s record of the longest win streak at 16 in a row will remain intact. Edwards competed in his third fifth-round fight in UFC history. It appears he will now face the winner of Khamzat Chimaev vs. Nate Diaz at UFC 279.

A rematch with Usman is also a possibility. UFC President Dana White stated at the post-fight press conference that he is looking for a trilogy fight between the two in England.