Fight fan tweets about Leon Edwards’ “fluke” victory over “dominating” Kamaru Usman
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Fans divided over Leon Edwards' lacklustre performance against Kamaru Usman being overshadowed by his viral KO
The fighting world is divided over the result of UFC 278’s main event, with some calling Edwards finishing Usman a “fluke”
The main event of UFC 278, the rematch of the 2015 bout between Welterweights Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards got off to an unexpected start – yet, it somehow replicated the 3 rounder in 2015. Leon “Rocky” Edwards was able to subdue Kamaru Usman in the first round, landing a surprising takedown and keeping him on the ground for most of the round.
Entering Round 2, “Rocky” was welcomed to Usman’s unrelenting pace and pressure, both on the feet and the ground. It seemed as if Leon Edwards was hesitant of exchanging with Kamaru Usman, scared of the subsequent takedown by the elite wrestler. The last showing between the two men resulted in a very ground-heavy approach adopted by the Nigerian. Under Trevor Wittman’s tutelage, however, Kamaru Usman didn’t seem to showcase his much improved striking game, subduing “Rocky’s” skill advantage.
Entering Round 5, any Leon fan would have felt dismayed at their fighter’s lack of striking confidence. Even Leon Edward’s coach felt the way most fans did, chiming “C’mon Leon, you’ve got this… don’t let him bully you” before the break ended for the fighters.
In what seemed to be Leon accepting his fate – losing a decision victory to the superior Usman, he set up a textbook-perfect headkick that caught Usman off-guard and ended the match a minute early. Before setting the shot, both UFC commentators Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier lamented the lack of display of his striking prowess. The kick that shut Usman’s lights out surprised him as much as all the viewers inside Vivint Arena and back at home.
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“Hate when someone is dominating something and then some mistake or fluke changes the whole thing” – Fan blasts Leon Edwards’ chance knockout
Joe Rogan called “Rocky’s” KO simply the greatest headkick KO ever witnessed in the UFC. It is hard not to agree with those comments of praise showered upon the Jamaica-born UFC champion. However, many fans have come ahead and made the case for it being sheer luck.
Till the 5th round, now-viral KO, Kamaru Usman was easily dominating the title showdown, by showcasing his much-improved striking and elite grappling. All the judges had Usman cruising to a decision nod, with a 39-37 score till the last round. And this is what has come into question by many people. The questions being asked are if the plaudits are being accorded to Edwards’ KO after misrepresentation of his overall lackluster performance and if Usman’s overall showing is not being considered on a ceteris paribus basis. Here is a tweet, that calls fluke wins, the “worst losses”:
That was the worst moment I’ve seen in sports in my lifetime. Hate when someone is dominating something and then some mistake or fluke changes the whole thing. That’s the worst losses. Mma has the worst fanbase in sports. You guys put up with a lot of nonsense to make money
— Thetraveler84 (@Thetraveler1984) August 21, 2022
UFC boss Dana White commented on the fight – saying that nights like these are why the sport remains “the best in the world” and that “Usman fought the perfect fight, till getting caught.” As per many fans, the split-second headkick overshadowed the otherwise overwhelmingly dominant performance. Whatever might be made of the criticism, one thing is for sure – Leon Edwards has captured the imaginations of millions worldwide, by not only delivering a split-second masterclass but also his famous post-fight words, echoing “Look at me now!”
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