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thank you all right Dylan we’ve been on the rules protect yourself at all times follow my instructions we’re going to keep it clean touch glass is good oh Touch first matchup in UFC history of Fighters with an unbeaten streak of 10 or more fights Kamar Usman had hand surgery several months ago was hoping to headline International fight week in July doctor said he needed more time Salt Lake City’s gain for the UFC 278 headliner here tonight the Challenger Edwards in red Champion Usman in the black and gold Edwards never looked at Camaro Usman the entire time never looked at him Usman walked across the Octagon got right in his face good early attack by Edwards to that lead leg don’t expect these guys to fatigue as you’ve seen on so many fighters tonight Edwards has been here for the past two weeks acclimating to the climate Usman trains in Colorado at altitude so both of these guys are prepared for this environment Edward slept in an elevation tent his entire training camp so these guys have taken everything into account [Applause] [Music] [Applause] some good kicks to start by Edwards Edwards will switch stances but he prefers to to fight out of that Southpaw stance big shot by the champion he did a great job of getting his hands locked immediately while the fact that Edwards defended that is a very big moment for it no doubt because maybe that deters Usman from taking multiple attacks you started the Colby Covington fight oh oh he made a mistake yep made a mistake now the Champs on top he might not have got there in the way that he wanted to but he got there thank you look at this though up to his feet again that’s big oh yeah Edwards did a really good job of creating a scramble just moving to get back up to his feet now he’s got to attack the hands of Usman well you see he’s prepared for that the way he framed off with his left shin yep the way he got back up to his feet he almost swept him and you know usman’s okay with a fight like this we saw it in the hospital fight if it takes place in the clinch and he’s working in close he is more than willing to fight this type of fight Edwards doing a real nice job early though with his defensive wrestling Usman attacking with knees here up against the fence dosanjos fight Woodley fight spent a lot of time in his clinch great job pummeling under there by Edwards yup getting that underhook and we saw this in fight number one Edwards did a good job oh my goodness in the full mouth and oh my goodness that is a takedown first time Usman has been grounded in his UFC career Edwards did a really good job of getting to the overhooking under stepping over using his height to crash Kamara Usman down to the man I think Usman did not expect this that’s one of the reasons why this happened well Joe you talked about this on the walk his offensive wrestling is so much better yeah it’s gotten much better and he just landed some good shots and this is unfamiliar to Usman he hasn’t dealt with this being on the bottom never before in the UFC and there was a big elbow landed by Edwards a moment ago and Leon is moments away from taking his back Leon has outstanding back control and he’s got to the bottom he’s got the body triangle the lone loss and Camaro usman’s career is by rear naked choke in his second fight and this is a fresh Leon Edwards on his back here oh my goodness but he’s got it’s on the chin usman’s got to just keep on fighting Edwards is going to keep moving side to side to try to get an arm under the chin but that body triangle is huge and Usman must turn his left hip towards the mat he’s got to alleviate some of the pressure yeah Joey he’s got to move it to the opposite side Leon’s trying to get under that chin oh this is nasty it’s gonna take multiple attempts at trying to switch sides if he’s going to get Usman ‘s doing a really good job of controlling the troll can [Applause] perhaps Edwards registered a complaint there about his glove being held Usman is almost off the body completely of Edwards but now Edwards can just start the punch nice little elbow there by Leon what a start for the underdog Challenger huge first round for the Challenger huge it could not have gone any better and here we’ll see the takedown unexpected look double underhooks here’s the trip beautiful job by Leon Edwards right in the mount and then crosses the legs look at this takes the back it was nasty transition right away to the body triangle phenomenal control by the Challenger big round it could not have gone any better for Edwards in that round but this is what we were talking about leading up to this fight Leon Edwards is a real threat and a sniper on his feet [Applause] but the power of Usman if he can land [Applause] he can put you out with one shot [Applause] Usman getting away with a little interlock of the fingers in the fence now goes to the shoulder strike you’ve also you’re dealing with a very confident Leon Edwards now he knows he belongs here oh she just got his foot caught he got his foot caught in between the cage and the mat who’s been really putting the pressure on him now wow oh nice uppercut from the champion big shots from Usman [Applause] but look at the composure Leon Edwards usman’s really putting the pressure on him now losing that round he hasn’t lost around in a long time especially like that now his foot got caught but they have really elevated this edge of the mat it is not what it used to be good job there for mooseman I poke let’s see what happens here he goes to grab and yep come in the eye wait [Music] [Applause] well it kind of went to the side of the eye hit the side it was more like the the knuckle of the thumb yeah all right back underway just over three minutes here to go in round two [Music] Leon and his South Boston has nasty kicks yeah he has worked that lead Lima busman quite effectively early nice kick there from the champ [Applause] Leon’s very effective though in switching back and forth he is but in this in the Orthodox stance he prefers front leg attacks coach Dean Thomas what do you have sir Smith strikes he Corrals Leon towards defense but from moving oh good straight left from Leon and his Corner wanting him to follow it up excellent body shot from both men and the one thing Dean to your point Usman never just goes he always gives a good faint before he attacks he stung him with the right hand there Usman got a nice right hand in there and gaining confidence with those Paws with every passing moment oh nice left from Edwards now excellent left hook [Applause] and we have seen Usman be here before in these tough fights where he’s had to rely on the Striking and really Elevate himself as the fight went on and you know Leon Edwards this game for a striking fight first from Leon it’s a bad mistake there by Edwards but I mean how do you call it a mistake when the last round he ended up on top and on the back of Usman I just don’t think that Leon’s gonna shoot a double leg and take down Kamara Usman Usman just controlling here oh he almost got a deep pick Edwards backs himself up to the fence nice little big elbow by the champion the pressure of Usman is something else man nasty body shots [Music] level change for Usman and he gets it that was much easier his pressure is starting to wear on Leon and that is all that experience in these high level moments and a nice way to put a Capstone on a round in which he got a whole lot done on the feet [Applause] 10 minutes down right here you see Camaro throw the uppercut beautiful and then body shot our left hook right around there he also has some great body shots in there beautiful outside leg kick low calf now you got a straight Jab Left Hand by Edwards wraps around the guard he checks the kick throws another little left right left hook and then the beautiful takedown by Usman that pressure of us when it’s starting to wear on Leon Edwards as the fight goes longer in all likelihood 1-1 as we hit this third round of a possible five they feel like usman’s bullying Leon now they want him to be the advancing party but that’s very difficult when the power of usman’s coming back in your direction and if you’ve watched Leon Edwards for a long time Leon fights it’s a clean when he’s fighting well he throws his combinations very tight he’s moving and he’s fighting at his Pace he’s gonna have to match Usman tonight if he wants to win this title looseman softly faints the level change [Applause] that inside leg kick has been there all night for Edwards good short left from the Challenger Edwards has got to stop giving ground he’s got to find a way to stop Usman from just walking him down oh wow and he gets him again easy this time this is usman’s game he he reached down for that leg as a fake didn’t expect it to be there and just took it yep Leon up to his feet but we must remember this is not normal for Leon no this is normal for Usman this is his comfort zone yes he’s grinding wrestling exchanges Leon may have gotten much better at wrestling but he’s not a division two national champion you don’t you don’t learn to wrestle like a guy in a Russell since he’s five years old right it doesn’t happen over the course of training camp like he’ll never be a scratch call for DC no matter how hard no it doesn’t matter it doesn’t matter how much I do it I’ll never get to be a scribes Golf and it will fade with fatigue whereas usman’s technique will not his ability to keep up in the beginning depends on explosiveness and speed and a lot of other things and that fades but Edwards is doing a really good job of getting back to his feet yeah but it’s when he gets up it’s what he does when he gets back to his feet the in between the wrestling exchanges that are going to allow for him to be in this fight especially if we go to the judge’s scorecards perhaps in some part Edwards managing that gas tank certainly expended a lot of energy trying to finish the fight in round one nice Connection by him there nowadays nice that’s a good combo there by Edwards oh nasty shots of the body by the channel but then that happens right Usman comes back returns puts him back down so even if Edwards gets back up he got taken down and Usman landed shots on him Usman mixing the martial arts beautifully here Midway through round three he’s taking his back just one career win by submission for Usman came by armed triangle in his UFC debut that’s a crazy fact considering Usman has been that dominant and he doesn’t really possess a submission threat he develops that submission threat then he would go to the next level and I don’t even know what the next level is when you’re that good he’s trying to flatten Leon out but Leon’s doing a good job of avoiding it Leon’s got a hand fight he’s got to reach back he’s got to try to get his back towards the side of the Octagon in hand fight you heard it there from her dude Usman or is he warning Edwards no Edwards when Edwards reached back he kind of grabs the grabs the glove a little bit but the problem is when he starts to move back into him Usman just goes to the next step he instead of fighting Leon from getting here Usman lets him go and then goes right back to the legs where he can take him back down tomorrow’s looking for the neck and this is intended to just wear him down this zaps your energy when you just lay over the top of your opponent he might have a guillotine here dominant round for the champion yeah it’s a big round for tomorrow Usman and again that Championship level experience is starting to show itself I used to love this position Rogan where you just take a front headlock and just sit on him it’s crunching you the the airwaves there aren’t they’re not wide open [Music] dominant third round for the champ Kimora Usman so Leon Edwards has gone 25 minutes and three of his last five fights coming in perhaps the altitude is a factor Usman trains year round at altitude but Edwards visibly fatigued there after 15 minutes I love the corner of Edwards they’re telling them hey you gotta let your hands go Leon they don’t like that he’s being so passive because this pressure is not going to slow down from Usman he’s going to continue to do this that’s what he does Leon’s got to do something to get respect yeah he’s gotta sting Camaro and he’s trying to do that now and we’ve seen Usman heard Gilbert Burns had him hurt nice kick to the body by Edwards they don’t want him backing up whatsoever [Applause] look at this [Applause] look at this Leon’s taking Camaro us months back tomorrow over swung there but you see Usman hunched over he’s fighting the hands he’s hand fighting there and I can’t see the angle from the front yep you see him fighting the hands there of Leon there was trying to break the lock did it again it’s gone away without a lot tonight boys bro I mean it changes the fight it changes the fight in a huge way visible shot sign of frustration from kamaru Usman he just kind of shrugged he did it again well Edwards has got to get his hands behind the elbows of Usman if he wants a chance to finish this takedown but nope we let him go but now he’s got to go forward though like you said Joey he’s got to get respect taken down again he kind of submitted to that one that was far too easy that was the easiest takedown usman’s got it and he’s tired right Leon Edwards is tired I talked about the the altitude tent I talked about getting here early but we didn’t I didn’t factor in the pressure of Camaro Usman sure keeping him on his heels the entire time Usman has been training at altitude for years he’s adapted to it it’s a different thing yes let us now check in with Dave Lavelle in the corner of Leon Edwards [Music] get it get your knees inside there you go there you go get your knees inside two minutes left Rocky two minutes left Leon used the cage as well there you go there you go don’t let him collect your legs and that’s the difference as the fight goes long lyanna has kind of accepted getting taken down yes opposed to defending with all of himself before the takedown happens and with each one of these exchanges when Camaro’s making him carry his weight it’s draining Leon Edwards gas tank back up he’s gonna have to break this lock and he’s gonna have to have a big minute and a half if he wants to win this round sometimes the mind will not align with the body right it sometimes does not happen Edward’s gotta fight the hands there if he wants a chance he’s got to break away from Usman and let some real offense go [Music] all right and Usman Just In Perpetual Motion under a minute to go round four mixes in a few strikes changes levels dumps him down again look at this Leon almost reversed it but back up to his feet at least hey you know what back down back down look come here back down right there back same position back back down so Herb Dean saw a fence grab blatant and so he puts the fighters back in the position that’s huge yeah he used the fence to get up and that’s why Herb’s the best yes because that is what should happen yeah he recognized what caused that stand up you know Edward Edwards has all the skill and ability to compete with Usman but right now it’s separating them it’s just Usman spirit in the champ body shot bruceman now Edwards covers up and now an uppercut and elbow Camaro’s all over him who’s been letting it all go now a dejected Challenger yes 20 minutes down five to go right all right Fifth and final round we’ll see what Edwards has left [Music] this is do or die for Leon Edwards what happened was that another low kick yeah but Usman said nope the corner of Edwards I love that come on rock you gotta go because he calls him Rocky you know it’s tremendous sounds like the movie but he’s got to do something big he does gotta do something really big yeah he’s got to open himself up Dean Thomas go ahead sir if it wasn’t obvious enough Leon is broken now and the biggest town that you can always know this is because he doesn’t give his coach eye contact in the corner and when they don’t give him eye contact they’re ashamed and he’s embarrassed right now of his own performance this is how you know a fighter is broken and Leon right now is broken all right he’s got four minutes to try to rest away this title so Dean you think making it to the final Bell is going to be his win that’s gonna be a victory for him that’s a moral victory for him not getting finished nice post by Edwards I mean they are so sweaty so hard to finish takedowns beautiful take down defense by Leon he’s done a lot of really good things together yeah it’s just not enough to beat the best me most certainly is better than the first time they fought but so is Usman yes and Usman is an Undisputed world champion now it’s a different world and a tremendous response by Usman after a tough first round had a big second and has kept that momentum going I mean his cardio man usman’s cardio is incredible never gets tired and I think that’s a big factor is that he’s constantly in this altitude he’s constantly training and constantly in these fights yes yes because it don’t matter if your altitude are in Vegas if you’re fighting Colby Covington right you’re going hard right and he has done that twice and won and won and won yes Dean doing a nice job all things considered navigating a lot of these fouls not try to make himself the story of the fight we’re halfway into the final round what is going on here he broke them just looking for more action Edwards has to take advantage of this chance he’s got to go gotta take some risks I would think and for Camaro he can Coast if he wanted to he’s way ahead he will not though he will not he’s gonna keep pressuring well he’s gonna try to stop him and that is what makes him the best yes that he doesn’t rest there was a good right hand by Edwards but that’s what Edwards like that he’s got to keep going though time let’s take a look at that oh that was not low that was not low that did not look low that was not low that did not look good let’s see that again that was not low uh it’s on the Belt Line interested all right back underway under two minutes to go and when when Edwards goes he can get to Usman his kicks are very fast even in round five his hands are very fast he’s just got to open up you know he’s a minute and a half from losing his championship fight so you leave it all out there it does not matter how this fight ends when that final Bell Rings whether you’re laying flat on your back or you’re in the Middle with your head down as his hand gets raised he’s going to win you got to empty the gas tank here yeah he may have resigned himself to losing a decision well that’s what Dean Thomas said yeah Dean feels like that would be a moral victory for Leon Edwards but that is not the cloth from which he is cut I mean that is a dejected [Applause] oh [Applause] oh my gosh [Applause] we were writing his obituary oh my goodness Leon Rocky Edwards your new Welterweight Champion oh my goodness and look at this he sets It Up by showing him the left oh and a perfect left high kick that is amazing I didn’t even see it goodness oh my God he said to Herb Dean no way no way yes oh my good look how he shows him the left to hide it well he’s done this before oh my goodness this is a great combination from Edwards oh my goodness wow that is what we were saying coming into this fight that Leon Edwards has such a full set of skills but we did not think that that was gonna happen in the fifth round like that and that is the reaction back at his gym in Birmingham England Leon Edwards has done it Leon Edwards just shook the world to make it official here’s Bruce Buffer ladies and gentlemen referee Herb Dean is called Soft to this contest at four minutes four seconds of round number five declaring the winner by knockout [Applause] [Applause] Undisputed welterweight champion of the world Leon Rocky [Applause] [Applause]