Kamaru Usman defends his UFC welterweight belt against Leon Edwards on 20 August 2022 in Salt Lake City. The main event marks the first time two fighters with unbeaten streaks of 10-plus fights collide, per MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn.
What happened?
Usman (20-1) and Edwards (19-3) meet in a rematch seven years after their first fight. Edwards lost that bout but has since rattled off 10 straight wins. Usman, meanwhile, has not lost inside the Octagon since 2015 and has defended his title twice since then.
Why it matters for Kamaru Usman
Usman is a 15-0 Octagon veteran with finishes over Gilbert Burns and Colby Covington. Yet he’s still tagged the “Snoozeman” by critics despite recent wars. His stand-up isn’t elite, and Edwards’ timing and precision could exploit that gap.
Usman’s wrestling still carries him, but Edwards made him work for every takedown in their first fight. The Englishman also won the first round on two scorecards that night. Usman absorbed early shots from Burns and pushed Covington deep into the fight twice.
How the fight could play out
Usman’s power and cardio remain his trademarks. Edwards, though, thrives in chess matches and nearly outpointed Covington twice. A razor-thin unanimous decision for Edwards tops Browne’s card.
Jack Browne’s pick: Leon Edwards by unanimous decision. Usman’s next move could be a leap up to middleweight, a plan the 35-year-old champion has already floated.
What comes next?
A razor-thin finish would hand Edwards the strap and end Usman’s 15-fight unbeaten streak inside the cage. The victor could pivot to a super-fight at middleweight or defend against a fresh contender.