Leon Edwards’ KO of Kamaru Usman shocks Skip, Shannon

It was the kick heard ‘around the world.

Kamaru Usman — the reigning welterweight champ and pound-for-pound the most effective fighter on the earth heading into Saturday’s UFC 278 — was displaying precisely why he hadn’t misplaced a struggle since 2013 in his title tilt in opposition to Leon Edwards. 

After being taken down for the primary time within the UFC within the first spherical, Usman charged again with a flurry of huge strikes in rounds 2-4, his legendary wrestling pedigree shining via as he appeared to finish one other title protection.

Spherical 5 was the identical actual story. Usman, who trains at excessive altitude in Denver, CO, appeared recent and full of life, remaining on the assault as his opponent scrambled to quell the onslaught. And whereas Usman’s conditioning pushed him ahead, Edwards appeared pretty much as good as defeated, making little effort to retaliate and exit with a “bang.”

As a substitute although, because the clock ticked below a minute, Edwards closed the curtain on Usman with a shocking shot, faking out his foe with a deft lefty jab and coaxing Usman proper into his fast-approaching foot. 

Stunning is not the phrase to explain the turnaround. It was dumbfounding, and it left your entire viewers in a glop of collective speechlessness.

“Undisputed” cohost Shannon Sharpe was one of many many who was left and not using a voice instantly after the knockout. 

However Monday morning, he put his awe from Saturday into phrases.

“… Edwards is a distinct fighter than the one which misplaced to Usman in 2015. He was doing an important job catching Usman with some good photographs, however Usman was profitable the rounds. What Usman did was slip a punch, and lean a bit of bit too far, and that left foot planted completely upside his head. 

“That is the factor about UFC … Till the bell goes off within the fifth, no person is out of a struggle, as a result of like that — a foot, an elbow, a fist — it is over! As quickly because it landed, it was over. [Referee] Herb Dean simply came to visit as a result of he knew [Usman] wasn’t getting up from that. … One mistake and it is [over].”

Edwards hoisting the belt as the brand new welterweight champion was not a consequence Skip Bayless foresaw in any respect.

“I stated, ‘I’m not going to purchase that struggle,’ Bayless mirrored. “I will simply watch the outcomes on the pc. … I am watching with one eye, and rapidly … What? As Dana White stated, that is what makes this sport the best on the earth.

“Usman fought with absolute and complete confidence your entire night time. He fought the proper struggle. Nicely, virtually, aside from mere seconds left.”