Kamaru Usman was riding high on a 15-fight winning streak when he crossed paths with Leon Edwards at UFC 278. The former welterweight champion was also dominating the fight at the Vivint Arena. However, we all know how that fight ended.
In the 5th and final round, with less than a minute to go, “Rocky” landed a perfect head kick to Usman’s temple. Kamaru went down like a pile of bricks, and Leon Edwards became the UFC welterweight champion. In doing so, Edwards also stopped Usman from tying Anderson Silva’s 16-fight winning streak record.
Leon’s corner advice ahead of the fifth round certainly enabled him to bring out his best in that round. However, one aspect of that glorious knockout that many fans and pundits alike missed was Leon’s corner screaming at him to throw the head kick. And when reviewing the tape, it seems like Edwards heard his coach Dave Lovell’s pleas.
As Joe Rogan speculated whether Leon had resigned to losing, his cornermen repeatedly screamed at Leon, “Cross kick. Cross kick. Cross head kick.” And like clockwork, Leon feinted the left hand, and as Kamaru dipped, he landed flush with his shin. Usman would have still been the UFC welterweight champion had it not been for Leon’s corner’s passionate and pivotal advice.
Leon Edwards and his team drilled the notorious head kick ahead of UFC 278
Ahead of UFC 278, no one expected Leon Edwards to win, let alone knock out Kamaru Usman with a perfect head kick. Well, that is not entirely true. Rocky and his team studied the Nigerian Nightmare extensively, drilling the head kick due to a particular tendency Kamaru has.
In a video uploaded by BT Sport, Edwards’ head coach, Dave Lovell was seen studying some footage and working with the other coaches to formulate a strategy against him. Then the video cuts to Leon practicing a simple “jab away, hook kick” sequence with his coaches.
And on August 20th, when Kamaru dipped to the right like he usually does to avoid the jab from the orthodox stance, Edwards punished him for it. Having drilled this technique countless times, he landed it flush and the rest is history. Hence, the head kick KO was no fluke, it was something meticulously drilled and practiced by the UFC welterweight champion.
Leon practicing this kick and managing to land it in the fight is reminiscent of an iconic quote from Bruce Lee. “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” It seems practice really does make one perfect, especially if you’re as talented and driven as Leon “Rocky” Edwards.
Discussion about this post