Jamaican-born Leon Edwards created a shocker when he floored Kamaru Usman within the fifth and ultimate spherical to assert the welterweight championship at UFC on Saturday evening in Salt Lake Metropolis.
Edwards, from Birmingham, England, was trailing within the bout when he landed a left-footed kick to the best facet of Usman’s face and neck within the ultimate minute of the competition.
Usman had appeared set to notch his 16th straight win, which might have levelled the all-time UFC document, however Edwards had different concepts.
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“That crosshead kick landed completely,” Edwards, with a 20 and three document, mentioned. He has not misplaced a bout since Usman defeated him seven years in the past, chalking up 9 wins on the trot.
Nigerian Usman entered the competition with a 20 and two document and appeared each bit one of the best pound for pound fighter for a lot of the competition, as he led 39-37 on the judges’ scorecards on the finish of 4 rounds.
“I can’t put it to phrases, it’s been a protracted, lengthy combat by means of 4 years. You all doubted me saying I couldn’t do it, you all mentioned I couldn’t do it. Have a look at me now!” screamed an emotional Edwards.
He added: “It doesn’t matter, I’m from the trenches, I’m constructed like this, I’ve been down my entire life, have a look at me now, have a look at me now. I do it for Birmingham, I do it for the youngsters that grew up the place I grew up, within the trenches. I do it for everybody coming behind me. I instructed you it’s potential, we are able to win a belt from the UK, I instructed you! Now have a look at me now, have a look at me now!” he repeated.
However the Britton wasn’t completed: “I instructed you I might do it, I instructed you. Pound for pound what, pound for pound what, there isn’t a pound for pound, the belt belongs to no one, does it?
“I used to be born in Jamaica with nothing, I lived in a picket shed, zinc roof, have a look at me now. God is on my facet, I mentioned all of it week that I felt like that is my second, every part occurred previously, the 2 years out, the pandemic, all of it. All of them mentioned I couldn’t come again and do it, there isn’t a ring rust, I instructed you that already, now have a look at me now, champion of the world, champion of the world.”