UFC 278 Results: Leon Edwards knocks out Kamaru Usman with stunning fifth-round head kick 1

UFC 278 Results: Leon Edwards knocks out Kamaru Usman with stunning fifth-round head kick

ByJake Nichols Updated on
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Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards is tonight’s UFC 278 main event in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The full fight card will stream live only on ESPN+ in the United States. Order UFC 278 here to watch this fight and all others live or on replay.

We’ll be bringing you live play-by-play updates for every main card fight, including Usman vs. Edwards, right now.

Usman vs. Edwards full fight play-by-play

Watch the full fight live now on ESPN+ PPV or view the full fight replay on ESPN+.

Round one

They don’t touch gloves. Both fighters come out and share the center of the cage. Usman with a lower stance. Edwards standing tall and light on his feet. Edwards feinting and attacking the lead knee of Usman with oblique kicks. Usman is patient and rocking left to right in his typical style. Usman now dives in for a takedown. Edwards defending against the cage. He maintains his balance and turns Usman. But a mistake from Edwards ends up with him on the bottom and Usman attacking him with a variety of strikes.

Edwards returns to his feet, but Usman retains control and is now digging his knees into the back of Edwards’ legs. He’s clinching Edwards now and working him with these leg strikes. Surprisingly, it’s Edwards who secures a huge takedown, and he’s now on top of Usman. Usman has never been taken down, and we’ve rarely seen him on the bottom. Usman turns, and Edwards takes his back. He’s got a body triangle now and is hand-fighting with Usman. Edwards controlling him very well. Did anyone expect this? Edwards is hunting for submissions and is attempting rear-naked chokes. Usman tucking his chin enough and controlling Edwards’ hands just well enough to prevent being fully vulnerable to the choke. Edwards is striking and attacking Usman’s head with elbows and punches to end the round.

Round one: 10-9 for Edwards

Round two

Incredible first round from Edwards, who defended the takedowns and ended up with one of his own. Now we’ve started round two, and Usman advances again. Usman blitzes forward and pushes Edwards’ back to the cage again. Back to the clinch.  They separate. Usman lands a heavy punch and then digs in hooks deep to Edwards’ body. He’s working the head and body of Edwards again against the cage. He’s not unloading with maximum power, though, and is cautiously racking up these power shots without putting himself in too much danger.

Edwards is seemingly struggling with Usman’s forward pressure here and attempts to clinch and grab Usman’s head but ends up almost eye poking Usman. A timeout is called as Usman’s vision is affected. Only a short one, though, and we’re back into it. Leg kick from Usman lands. Edwards goes back to the lead knee now. Usman jab is coming into play. Edwards with a sharp 1-2, and the left lands cleanly. Usman comes forward and runs into a left knee from Edwards that targets the body. Solid left hook from Edwards lands. Usman still moving forward and now engages in the clinch again.

Here comes the Usman foot stomps. That’s one. Two. Edwards with his back to the cage and Usman digging his head into his chin. Edwards separates and then dives for a double-leg but Usman defends with ease. Usman sprawling and resting his body weight on Edwards, who attempts to return to his feet. Elbows from Usman now against the cage. So much pressure from Usman. Edwards has been unable to counter as Usman is just keeping up the pace. A successful takedown from Usman and he’s now landing some strikes from top position to end round one.

Round two: 10-9 for Usman

Round three

Edwards takes the center to start round three. Usman seems to be satisfied with circling. Interesting footwork battle here as Usman starts to come forward and put pressure on Edwards without a single strike. Usman walks Edwards down and then goes for another double-leg. Successful again, and Edwards on his back against the cage. Edwards is back up, and Usman pushing against the cage again. Edwards defending well enough but expending lots of energy and allowing Usman to control the fight.

Usman is all over Edwards now halfway through the round and working the head and body with punches. Another takedown is successful. Edwards turns, and Usman starts to take his back. One hook is in, and he’s putting all of his body weight on Edwards now. Usman wearing on Edwards. Edwards gets his back to the cage now and Usman is still over his legs and wearing on him. Usman reaches for the neck as Edwards is now sitting against the cage. Strikes to the head and body now. Another strong round from Usman.

Round three: 10-9 for Usman

Round four

Edwards is starting to look fatigued as his corner tells him to step up the pace and start using his hands more in round four. He’s coming forward now to start this round, but Usman lands a series of strong punches and forces a reset. Leg kick from the champion. Edwards backing up again. But now it’s Edwards clinching and controlling Usman against the cage. He’s in front of his corner, who is yelling advice to him as he attempts to work from the position.

Usman separates and then immediately gets his own takedown. He’s working strikes from inside Edwards’ full guard. Usman heavy on top. Edwards scoots back to the cage to defend. Usman remains heavy and makes him carry his weight. He returns to his feet, but Usman is still controlling him with a body lock. Usman breaks, attempts a 1-2 and then dives in for another takedown. Edwards uses the fence to return to his feet but then referee Herb Dean breaks the action and forces Edwards to return to the mat for the reset. Usman working Edwards with heavy strikes now to end round four.

Round four: 10-9 for Usman

Round five

Edwards has to get a finish to win this fight now that he’s seemingly down three rounds to one. Usman still pressuring Edwards here and working him over in the clinch. Edwards defending with overhooks, but Usman’s constant pressure is fatiguing the challenger. Herb Dean asks Usman to work from the clinch. Usman still controlling the position and now drops down to the hips of Edwards for a takedown. Herb Dean breaks them now and makes them restart in the center.

Edwards lands a good right hand, and then a low blow connects to Usman’s groin area, causing another time-out. A quick break, and Usman opens the action with a body kick. Edwards’ leg kick now. His striking is fantastic, but we’ve rarely seen it tonight. The fight looks to be approaching the end. Commentators are discussing how it looked as if Edwards had resigned himself to defeat, but then a vicious head kick connects, and Usman is OUT. It’s all over. One clean head kick and Edwards has stolen this fight. Absolutely incredible.

Usman was on his way to winning a comfortable decision. It looked as though he had it in the bag. But just one perfectly-timed strike from Edwards seals the fight.

Official Result: Leon Edwards def. Kamaru Usman via KO (head kick) – R5, 4:04

Covering MMA and combat sports since 2015. Formerly the lead MMA Editor at RealSport.

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