UFC 278: Vivint Arena; Salt Lake City, Utah
In the world of thunderous head kicks out of nowhere, move over Holly Holm; you now have company. With the inevitable setting in Leon Edwards head kicked his way into the record books as well by grabbing victory from defeat.
He avenged his loss to Kamaru Usman from 2015 which was just 55-seconds away from being a repeat unanimous decision. “Rocky” saved Anderson Silvas record win streak in the UFC at 16. And kept his unbeaten streak going at eleven, and ended Usman’s at 19.
It actually could have happened in the opening round after the 30-year old Brit took Usman down and hunted non-stop for a rear naked choke. Thanks to Usman being able to hand fight so well, it didn’t go down that way. Setting up the stunning finish. Although; obviously that too would have shocked the world.
Sometimes A Prevent Defensive Might Be Best
Usman after dropping the opening frame, locked in and used a smothering, heavy pressure attack to take the life from Edwards. Round-by-round became a copy-and-paste game, rip the body and use his wrestling. Then it was Usman biting on the hands and going right into the kick that put him to sleep.
Had Usman just gone against everything that he is, he could have stayed well out of range and retained his strap.
Grabbing Victory From Defeat
So now the wheels turn with options for Edwards. You can bet that Usman’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz had a clause put into the contract that there’d be an immediate rematch if just this happened. It’s standard operating procedure.
Post-fight Dana White teased a trilogy in Wembley Stadium. Jorge Masvidal has a colorful history with Edwards. Let’s not forget in three-weeks; Khamzat Chimaev might make his case completely crystal clear. And it’s a safe bet that Colby Covington will be heard from.
All present serious problems for the new champion. So who knows, that welterweight title might turn into a hot potato now. But either way, Edwards can’t be overlooked anymore. He’s in the sniper category; albeit a lighter one, with good fundamentals. He just needs to believe more in himself, and that gold belt may help do just that.
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