Kamaru Usman was taken straight to hospital after being violently knocked out by Leon Edwards at UFC 278.
The welterweight champion was making the sixth defence of his title in a rematch of his 2015 clash with Edwards. And the fight looked to be heading for the same conclusion as Usman overcame a tricky start to stamp his authority on the main event.
But Edwards refused to be counted out and connected with a stunning head kick in the final round to leave Usman prone on the canvas as referee Herb Dean immediately waved the fight off. In winning the belt, Edwards becomes just the second champion from the UK, following in the footsteps of former middleweight ruler Michael Bisping.
Reflecting on the fight, UFC president Dana White said: "I thought Usman fought the perfect fight... I was listening to the commentary and Rogan and Anik and DC were dead on with everything they were saying Edwards should have been doing and needed to do, and as soon as they said it he landed the head kick.
"You think of everything that was on the line for Usman tonight, and Usman fought with total confidence, he fought the perfect fight. It might not be the most fan-friendly style but he was landing big shots to the body, big shots to the head, he couldn't have fought a more perfect fight until the last minute.
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"It's what makes this sport the best sport in the world, that you can sit through four rounds and four minutes and that can happen, anything is possible in this sport. There are no lop-sided or ones-sided fights, anything his possible. I said people wouldn't give Leon enough credit, he was a dangerous opponent."
White also confirmed Edwards will defend his belt against Usman in his next fight with the promotional boss set on bringing the bout to England. It would be the first UFC title fight in the country since Bisping beat Dan Henderson in Manchester in 2016.
