MMA: Nigerian Kamaru Usman loses UFC welterweight title to Leon Edwards

British fighter Leon Edwards celebrating his resounding victory over Nigerian Kamaru Usman on August 20, 2022 in Salt Lake City.

Getty Images via AFP - ALEX GOODLETT

Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow

3 mins

Stupor in Salt Lake City (Utah), Saturday August 20, where Kamaru Usman was dethroned by Leon Edwards during the fight for the title of welterweight champions.

The 'Nigerian Nightmare' was dominating and heading for a 16th successive victory when the Briton dried him off with a kick to the jaw.

Edwards takes the throne by handing Usman his first UFC loss, with a knockout knockout.

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It's a huge clap of thunder that just slammed into the world of MMA (mixed martial arts).

In Salt Lake City's Vivint Arena, a king fell from the throne he had reigned supreme over for nearly three and a half years.

, the welterweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), MMA's premier league, lost his crown to Leon Edwards.

What happened in Utah is one of the biggest surprises in the history of the discipline.

Because even if nothing is decided until the fight is over, most people did not believe in a victory for Edwards against Usman, when there was only one minute left on the clock.

Usman on the verge of a historic 16th victory...

Kamaru Usman, whose number had been circulating for some time in the

("Greatest Of All Time") debates as he crushed every opponent, seemed having done the hardest part in the octagon.

After a complicated first round against a striking specialist, the Nigerian was back to what he did best and what took him to the top: wrestling.

In the third and fourth rounds, the number one of the UFC all categories had taken the clear advantage by sticking to Edwards, pressing him against the grid and bringing him to the ground.

With this strategy that has proven itself many times over, Usman exhausted the challenger, scored points and established his dominance over the fight.

When starting the fifth and final round, all the lights were green.

A 16th straight UFC win — like legendary Brazilian Anderson Silva — was right up his alley.

...until the monstrous knockout signed Edwards

Even during this fifth round, the hope always disappeared a little more on the side of the Briton, without solution while time was running out.

But in combat sports, sometimes all it takes is one blow to change everything.

And that's what happened, 58 seconds before the end of this duel.

Leon Edwards feigned a right punch before sending a high kick (high kick) left: Kamaru Usman, who had tilted his head to his right, received the blow in the jaw and collapsed like a stone. wireless puppet.

KO, lying on his back, while the winner let his joy burst.

“ 

 ,” commented Cameroonian heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, no doubt disappointed with the unfavorable result for his friend.

The kick heard 'round the world 🌎

[ @Leon_EdwardsMMA |

#UFC278 pic.twitter.com/GfmX7pBnj6

— UFC (@ufc) August 21, 2022

Thus ends the reign of Kamaru Usman, trapped and defeated by one of his opponent's last attempts.

Leon Edwards could not hide his emotion after this blow.

With a monumental kick, he ended the Nigerian's huge streak and handed him his first loss in the UFC (and second in his career).

In December 2015, Usman defeated Edwards;

undefeated since then, the Briton takes masterful revenge.

And it is the entire welterweight division that is turned upside down after this earthquake.

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