UFC 278 results: Twitter erupts as Leon Edwards scores shocking knockout of Kamaru Usman in main event
Social media exploded when Edwards connected with his head kick to earn the title in Round 5

Part of the magic of combat sports lies in the way no fight is ever truly over until final horn. There's no 10-point play in football, but MMA comes with the built-in possibility of a down-and-out fighter, seemingly seconds away from a disappointing defeat, pulling off a picture-perfect head kick to knock out arguably the sport's best fighter. That's what Leon Edwards managed to pull off when he knocked out Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC 278 to win the welterweight championship.
Edwards surprised in the first round, scoring a takedown and advancing to Usman's back and threatening with attempts at a rear-naked choke. But, from that point on, the fight was all Usman.
Usman won striking exchanges, scored takedowns and dominated the narrative of the bout. It was Edwards who looked fatigued and increasingly dejected as the minutes and rounds ticked by, his corner implored their fighter to do something to turn the fight around.
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Then, with less than one minute remaining in the fifth and final round, Edwards feinted, caught Usman leaning at the waist and launched a perfect kick that sent Usman crashing to the canvas unconscious.
As shocking as the knockout was for fans, it was equally shocking for other fighters.
Let's take a look at some of the best Twitter reactions from the moments after Edwards' sport-shaking head kick.
Wtf 😂😂😂😂😂😂
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) August 21, 2022
We wrote his obituary! Wow congrats on a championship high kick @Leon_edwardsmma you’re the man now! #ufc278
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) August 21, 2022
HOLY S**T!!!! @LEON_EDWARDSMMA IS THE WW CHAMPION OF THE WORLD!!! #UFC278 pic.twitter.com/Ms9rwG1Ota
— UFC (@ufc) August 21, 2022
Usman gonna come out saying he from Pluto after that smack hahah Marty green pants from Pluto 😂
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 21, 2022
Usman Seconds of away from retaining the belt and an INSANE headkick KO from Leon Edwards! WOW! Jamaica 🇯🇲has another UFC champion! I smell a trilogy!! #UFC278
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) August 21, 2022
This is a fuc*** crazy sport!!! #ufc278
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) August 21, 2022
It’s all about how you finish #UFC278
— Frank Mir (@thefrankmir) August 21, 2022
Shadow kick for the win!
— The Thugjitsu Master (@thugjitsumaster) August 21, 2022
I don’t think I’ve ever seen something like that… what a sport #ufc278
— Billy Quarantillo (@BillyQMMA) August 21, 2022
















