Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards Scores ‘Real Combat Media MMA Knockout of 2022’ of Kamaru Usman at UFC 278
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
London, UK (December 28th, 2022)– Shades of Rocky Balboa and Apollo going MMA. After losing to Kamaru ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ Usman in 2015, Leon Edwards had to win 10 consecutive MMA bouts to secure a rematch with Usman for the UFC Welterweight title. At UFC 278 at Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah, on August 20, 2022, Usman versus Edwards took place for the UFC MMA World Welterweight title.
Having lost the bout on points going into the final round, Edwards, 20-3 with seven knockouts, Team Renegade, Erdington, West Midlands, United Kingdom, behind on the scorecards, landed a left kick at 4:04 of the fifth and final round in The Octagon that knocked Usman, 20-2 with five knockouts, Sanford MMA, Delray Beach, Florida, out cold. Referee herb Dean did not even bother to count. For this achievement, Leon Edwards scored the Real Combat Media MMA Knockout of 2022, and became UFC MMA World Welterweight champion.
Edwards defined the moment in the sport of MMA. Edwards’ knockout Usman was not part of an accumulation of blows. Edwards career defining kick simply happened when it happened, at a moment when nobody anticipated or expected it. The MMA win by Edward reminded this reporter of Randall Bailey’s December 2012 MGM Grand Garden Arena Las Vegas eleventh-round boxing knockout win from nowhere for the vacant IBF World Welterweight title over Mike Jones. Bailey’s counter right uppercut, which finished Jones at 2:52 of round 11, came from nowhere.
Edwards shocking knockout kick of Usman in their rematch seemingly came from nowhere, in a five-round MMA world title bout which, after the first round was decidedly one-sided in Usman’s direction.
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