UFC 278 is headlined by a rematch between number one and number two in the Welterweight rankings of the promotion. The defending champion and number one ranked Kamaru Usman will face the number two ranked British fighter, Leon Edwards who has not lost in the Octagon since a unanimous decision loss to Kamaru Usman in December 2015. Since that clash, Usman had secured the Welterweight title and dominated the 170lb division with five successful title defenses and a 19-match streak. The challenger also boasts an impressive nine-match winning streak.
Location: Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, USA
Date: 21.08.2022, 05:00
Where to watch: ESPN+ PPV
Kamaru Usman
The Nigerian-American fighter is number one in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings. Usman has been fighting all his life. He was a former freestyle wrestler and folkstyle wrestler before turning to mixed martial arts. He debuted in the UFC against Leon Edwards, defeating him in a unanimous decision. In 2019 he dethroned Tyron Woodley at UFC 235 to become the UFC Welterweight champion after dominating a five-round slugfest.
The 35-year-old’s last two fights have been rematches against Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington, winning the bouts in style. He gained a Performance of the Night bonus award, a knockout of the year award, and the honor of being the first person to knock out Jorge Masvidal in their fight. Usman is The Ultimate Fighter 21 tournament winner.
Kamaru Usman, Tale of the Tape
- Age: 35
- Height: 6’ 0”
- Weight: 170 lb
- Reach: 76”
- Total fights: 21
- Record: 20-1-0
Leon Edwards
The British-Jamaican Welterweight debuted in the UFC in 2014. He has amassed a formidable record in the 170lb class and is now only ranked second to the champion. Despite his stellar record, Edwards has fought sparingly since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. A bout of the viral disease and several cancelations related to the disease, injury, and a no-contest have limited his time in the Octagon. He went 425 days without activity at some point. However, the British fighter who secured a unanimous decision against Nate Diaz in May 2021 is confident of finally stopping the Kamaru Usman train.
All I've been doing is training. The Khamzat Chimaev fight, for example, that's three camps. I've done many camps and improved leaps and bounds. Now is the perfect time to fight. I think those years looking back on it now were blessings in disguise. It gave me time to hone my skills and polish what I needed to polish. His body is breaking down and I think now is the perfect time. But I'm not going in there thinking that. I'm going in prepared for the so-called pound-for-pound best
Leon Edwards, Tale of the Tape
- Age: 30
- Height: 6’ 0”
- Weight: 170 lb
- Reach: 74”
- Total fights: 23
- Record: 19-3-1
Betting odds
Leon Edwards is a huge underdog for the match. A value bet for him to win is priced at 4.0 odds on Bet365.
Placing a bet that Usman will win the fight by KO, TKO, DQ or Refusal is priced at 3..40 odds on 22bet. The same bet for Edwards goes for 6.0 odds on 22Bet.
Usman to win by Decision or Technical Decision goes for 1.91 on 1xbet. Betting for a No to the fight going the distance comes at a handy 2.25 odds on 1xbet.
