Edwards stuns Usman with 5th-round KO to become welterweight champion

Leon Edwards surprised Kamaru Usman with a knockout in the final minute of the fifth round to become the welterweight champion Saturday at UFC 278 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Edwards became the first Jamaican-born fighter to win a UFC title. He also avenged a 2015 loss to Usman. Since dropping that bout, Edwards has gone 11 straight fights without a defeat.

Edwards - who was down 39-37 on all three scorecards entering the final round - pulled off an incredible head kick to put the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the promotion on the canvas.

"Rocky" became the first opponent to score a takedown on Usman in 16 UFC fights in the first round, but otherwise struggled to generate offense before the knockout. Usman scored takedowns with ease for most of the fight, and secured five or more in a single bout for the seventh time in his career.

"You all said I couldn't do it," the new 170-pound king shouted after the life-changing victory. "Look at me now!"

Usman, who defended his title successfully five times, fell one win short of tying Anderson Silva's legendary 16-fight win streak. "The Nigerian Nightmare" suffered his first loss in the UFC and fell to 20-2 overall.

UFC president Dana White said during the post-fight press conference that he would like for a third fight between Edwards and Usman to take place in England, where the new champion grew up and resides.