Look at him now: Leon Edwards Seizes UFC Welterweight Gold

 

Talk about a fighter living up to his name. Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards shocked the MMA world with his stunning come from behind 5^th round knockout of #1 pound for pound fighter and welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.

Unbeaten since 2015, blighted by bad luck and cancelled bouts, but always fuelled by self-belief, Edwards had always insisted he just needed one shot, and he could not have been more clinical when his opportunity came.

In the altitude of Salt Lake City, where fighters across the card fatigued early, Leon Edwards came with a new gameplan, starting hard and fast. In the first round, he showed his full repertoire; stellar takedown defence, the ability to get up off the mat when Usman took him down, and even the ability to become the first man in the UFC to take Usman down. Not a bad turnaround for a man who "didn’t know how wrestle" when he came up short against Usman in their first bout in 2015.

But, it was never going to be easy. On an historic night for British combat sports, where Anthony Joshua struggled for ascendancy in a rematch against a pound for pound great of his own sport, Oleksandr Usyk, it looked for the next 19 minutes that, despite an improved gameplan, Edwards was headed for the same fate as his compatriot. Usman scrambled, pressured and manhandled Edwards for the next 3 and a half rounds. He landed takedowns at will, neutralised Edwards’ striking, and looked for all the world like a man who just simply could not and would not be beaten.

As spectators, we all become body language experts when viewing fights, reading into eye contact at stare downs, identifying nerves and fear in places they probably do not exist. But, as Edwards sat on his stool after the 3rd and 4th rounds, failing to make eye contact with his team who urged him onwards, it didn’t take a genius to work out that Edwards looked like a man who knew his dream was slipping away.

A more likeable fighter than Edwards, you would be hard pressed to find. From humble origins in Jamaica, Edwards is a decent, a family man who has only attracted more well-wishers as he has become known in the public sphere.

On this night, Edwards was destined to be more than a plucky loser. He, and the universe, had different plans, as the bout headed towards the closing minute of the 5^th round. We’ve seen come from behind victories in MMA before, where victory is snatched from the jaws of defeat. After 4 rounds of grappling domination from the American challenger, Anderson Silva submitted Chael Sonnen via arm triangle in the 5^th round of their 2010 bout. Earlier this year, Jiri Prochazka submitted Glover Texeira to seize the Light Heavyweight world title in the 5^th round when almost certainly behind on the cards. But, these instances were hardly comparable to what unfolded from Edwards. Anderson Silva is the arguably the greatest MMA fighter of all time, and he was the champion. Yes, Prochazka was a challenger, but there was very little to split himself and Glover in almost every round during that roaring contest he won against the far older, recently crowned champion.

What Edwards did was unprecedented. Usman has been making a surge in the sport; Silva’s record of most consecutive UFC wins was in touching distance. Usman had been making a case to not only break this record, but assume a place in the pantheon of all time greats, such was his dominance at his weight class. Usman looked in complete control. When the pressure was on, Edwards did not swing for the fences. He delivered one of the most calculated, impactful and important head kicks in MMA history, feinting with a left hand before driving his left leg into the ducking Usman, sending him to the canvas already out cold.

What’s next for both men? Its hard to look beyond an immediate rematch. If anyone deserves it, its Usman, and given his pedigree and dominance in the contest, you would be amiss to bet against him winning it. That being said, getting knocked out does strange things to previously dominant fighters. Luke Rockhold, fighting just prior to the main event tonight, has never been the same since his flash KO in his title bout against the only other British UFC champion Michael Bisping. 

Regardless of what Usman arrives to their next contest, count ‘Rocky’ out at your peril. People have been doing that for years. And look at him now.