Edwards and the surprise of the year
The Utah card represented the biggest upset so far in 2022. Kamaru Usman lost the belt in spectacular fashion to Leon Edwards.
Few would have bet on Leon, the Englishman (born in Jamaica) gave a lesson in patience and fight quality and put an opponent who had all the credentials to sleep.
The 170-pound order has changed
No one will ever be prepared to see the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world go down like that, but that’s the fight business. Edwards worked many years for this opportunity and made the most of it. He caught Kamaru with a combination that he closed with a kick and put him to sleep. Historic moment and well deserved, much to work for in the return.
Leon had to take on the role of challenger for a long time against the Nigerian-born fighter. Great moment for the Jamaican-born, the 170-pounder came back to life on a night when Luke Rockhold made it clear he wants no more of MMA and Jose Aldo’s path for one more championship has been interrupted.
Edwards and the upset of the year
Usman became such a complete fighter that he convinced us all that he was invincible and even though Dana White had him in the conversation as the best welterweight champion the myth was over, it took a disciplined guy like Edwards to put him in doubt and the kick that sent him to sleep will go down in history as one of the best memories for fans in UFC history.
In an instant, Edwards changed the order of everything by putting the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world to sleep and making the threat he’s had for years a reality. His moment had arrived