[imagesource: USA TODAY Sports]
As far as underdog stories go, Leon Edwards’ win at UFC 278 against welterweight champion Kamaru Usman ranks among the greatest knockouts in UFC history.
Edwards may have built up a 10-fight winning streak heading into Saturday night’s clash (Sunday morning our time) in Salt Lake City, Utah, but Usman has built a reputation as one of the greatest fighters of all time and was the overwhelming favourite.
Heading into the final of five rounds, Edwards appeared to have run out of steam and was losing to a better fighter.
Bang – out comes the head kick and down goes Usman:
What a knockout by Leon Edwards… Usman went down like a log #UFC278 pic.twitter.com/V6tPcfqNXN
— Njabulo Vilakazi (@nj1vilakazi) August 21, 2022
In case that video is taken down, SuperSport also has the footage:
THE UNTHINKABLE
Leon Edwards knocks Kamaru Usman out in the fifth round to become the Welterweight World Champion #UFC278 pic.twitter.com/cISjaw57wa
— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) August 21, 2022
Watching on, Joe Rogan was so shocked he looked like he’d just been fact-checked for a spurious claim on his own podcast:
Joe Rogan is everyone right now #UFC278 pic.twitter.com/uFVoQFxZRb
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) August 21, 2022
Edwards was given the nickname Rocky during his high school days and MMA Fighting knows that moniker is well-earned:
[He] authored one of the greatest comebacks and greatest knockouts in UFC history, putting Kamaru Usman out cold in the fifth round with a head kick, claiming the welterweight title…
While at various points in time during the fight, Edwards undeniably looked frustrated, he never looked broken, because Leon Edwards is not a man who is broken by trivial things like taking an ass-kicking. And so, with time running down on his Cinderella story, in need of a finish to win, Edwards did the thing his coaches had been asking for, he came forward, he flashed the hands, and he threw a high kick…
Credit to Usman for offering his congratulations to Edwards after the bout. Somebody was bound to respond with that signature music, though:
It’s Rocky time pic.twitter.com/0WQT1xqJLm
— ArnoldsMoustache (@gary95496917) August 21, 2022
Usman was taken straight to the hospital after the bout but has since recovered.
While we’re here, we might as well discuss the night’s most bizarre moment. Towards the end of the bout between UFC middleweights Paulo Costa and Luke Rockhold, the latter took a moment to smear himself in his opponent’s blood:
Mushrooms Rockhold is the stuff of legends. #UFC278 pic.twitter.com/6UFCI9L6fE
— Ham on Wry (@RealHamOnWry) August 21, 2022
Name this move
#UFC278 pic.twitter.com/kPNoXTkfJS
— UFC (@ufc) August 21, 2022
Costa won via unanimous decision and was unimpressed with Rockhold’s antics, reports MMA Fighting:
“I didn’t see it in the moment of the fight,” Costa said at the post-fight press conference for Saturday’s pay-per-view event. “I just felt something on my face, but I was so worried about blocking his arms to not get elbowed in the face and punched. But I felt something.
“Now, when I saw, it’s a very disgusting scene. It’s a very weird moment.”
A clearly emotional Rockhold announced his retirement following the bout:
“I gave it my all … I’m f—ing old.”
Luke Rockhold was full of emotions as he announced his retirement after #UFC278 pic.twitter.com/QsJvGcH2sB
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 21, 2022
At least Rockhold appears to have wiped the blood off his face before he goes in for the hug.
[sources:mmafighting&mmafighting]
