After his stunning knockout victory over Kamaru Usman on Saturday night, second ever British UFC champion, Leon Edwards received a hero’s welcome when he returned to the UK.
With barely one minute remaining on the clock, Edwards knocked out Usman with a stunning head kick. It was one of the most memorable moments in UFC history with Joe Rogan describing it as:
Joe Rogan started trending in fall out from UFC 278 in light of devastating knock out Leon Edwards pulled off leaving Kamaru Usman out cold.
“That was one of the most spectacular head-kick knockouts in the history of the sport — considering the stakes, considering the consequences,” Rogan said afterward on the pay-per-view broadcast.
“I mean, it’s flawless – flawless technique. … The way he set it up with that left, Kamaru leaned to the right – perfect head kick, out cold.”
“Nothing compares. It’s the greatest head-kick knockout in the history of the sport – with the most consequences, the most at stake, the most doubt, the most people counting him out, including us.”
After returning to the UK from Utah, the Birmingham athlete was met with a raucous crowd of supporters who surrounded him at the airport and chanted “Champ! Champ! Champ” as he posed with his new belt.
It should be known that the details of the arrival were kept secret as to not rouse the general public.
As the 30-year-old walked out of the arrivals area, cheering fans ran up to him to give him hugs and shake his hands. He was wearing a black cap and sunglasses. Edwards seemed to be enjoying the moment by lifting his arm high and moving about.
During the interview, he was visibly moved inside the Octagon and insisted that he had always been confident he would succeed and win the title.
‘I cant put it into words,’ he said. ‘It’s been a long, long four years. They all said I couldn’t do it, look at me now! Pound-for-pound, headshot, dead!”
‘It doesn’t matter, I’m from the trenches. I’m built like this. I’ve been doubted my whole life, but look at me now. Now look at me. I told you it’s possible to win a belt for the UK. I told you!’
White said : ‘It’s crazy, I was listening to the commentary of Joe Rogan, Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier, and they were spot on in everything they were saying about what Leon needed to do.”
‘And as soon as they finished saying it, he kicks them in the head.’