Kamaru Usman reacts to “Hail Mary” head kick KO loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 278
Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman reacted to the “Hail Mary” head kick KO loss he suffered against Leon Edwards at UFC 278.
In one of the most improbable comebacks in MMA history, Edwards brutally knocked out Usman late in the fifth round of their UFC welterweight title fight after being down on the scorecards heading into the final minute of the fight. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Usman would win the unanimous decision over Edwards, but the Brit had different plans. With one clean left head kick, he changed the course of both men’s careers and the history of the UFC welterweight division forever. It was an amazing KO that came out of nowhere.
While you would think that Usman is upset about what happened, it’s in fact the opposite. Speaking to TMZ Sports days after the knockout loss, Usman was a good sport about what happened. He commended Edwards on the head kick and said he’s not emotional about it.
“It was a great shot, I’m talking Hail Mary in the Super Bowl. That was a great shot, man. “It’s not hard at all (to watch it). Do you know how many people I’ve done that to? It happened, and that’s the beautiful thing about this sport. That happens, but we forget what was actually taking place in that fight. I’m not down at all. It’s almost like everyone is more sad about it than I am. Everyone else is more emotional than I am. To me, that lets me know that people care, that people are invested,” Usman said (h/t MMAFighting.com).
Usman knows that the third fight against Edwards is up next since they are now 1-1 and the second fight was competitive. He even wants to travel to England for the trilogy fight. In the end, Usman knows that he lost and accepts it. Despite losing his belt, is happy for his rival.
“Congratulations to Leon. What a beautiful technique, what a Hail Mary. That’s why I love this sport: anything can happen at any time, and it definitely did,” Usman said.
Do you believe Kamaru Usman will be able to reclaim the UFC welterweight title in the trilogy fight against Leon Edwards?
