BodySlam is live on the action for tonight’s UFC 278 PPV event that is being headlined by Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards for the UFC Welterweight title in a rematch, plus Luke Rockhold vs. Paulo Costa, Jose Aldo vs. Merab Dvalishvili and much more.
For those that did not catch the early-prelims and prelim card, here are the results below for each fight and the result.
Victor Altimarano defeats Daniel Da Silva via Round-one TKO (punches)
Aori Qileng defeats Jay Perrin via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Amir Albazi defeats Francisco Figueiredo via Round-One Submission (Rear-naked choke)
Ange Loosa defeats A.J. Fletcher via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Luis Saldaña vs. Sean Woodson ends in Split-Draw (29-27, 29-27, 27-28)
Jared Gordon defeats Leonardo Santos via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Follow along as we keep you updated round-by-round, fight after fight as we watch the events unfold tonight in Salt Lake City, Utah as the main card kicks off with Tyson Pedro vs. Harry Hunsucker.
Main card opener: Tyson Pedro (8-3) vs. Harry Hunsucker (7-5) at Light Heavyweight (205lbs)
Round 1: Tyson Pedro looked phenomenal all week coming into this fight vs. Harry Hunsucker and showed that in 65 seconds of the first round. Pedro would land jab to stun them before connecting the crushing teep kick to Hunsucker’s liver to shut them down and follow up ground strikes before the referee had called it off to secure the fast TKO win to open the pay-per-view main card
Result: Tyson Pedro defeats Harry Hunsucker via TKO (punches) in 1:05 of the 1st round.
2nd Main Card bout: Lucie Pudilova (13-7) vs. Wu Yanan (13-5) at Women’s Bantamweight (135lbs)
Round 1: Pudilova times her shot well and gets a takedown. Wu threatens an armbar, but Pudilova is able to defend and pass to side control. Pudilova lands a couple of punches and then attempts to pass to full mount, but Wu scrambles back to her feet. Pudilova keeps with the clinch and presses her opponent against the fence. She lands a couple of knees to the body before the round ends. 10-9 Pudilova.
Round 2: Both offer a few light strikes to start the round as Wu circles on the outside. Pudilova punches upstairs while Wu attacks the legs with kicks. Pudilova charges in and gets a head and arm toss. She then transitions to the back and after a scramble for position, Pudilova ends up in side control, but takes the back a moment later. She flattens Wu out and begins raining down vicious elbows to the side of the head. The intensity and frequency of the strikes causes the referee to pull her off for the TKO stopapge.
Result: : Lucie Pudilova def. Wu Yana via TKO (elbows) – Round 2, 4:04
3rd Main Card bout: Jose Aldo (31-7) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (14-4) at Bantamweight (135lbs)
Round 1: Both fighters touch gloves. Aldo comes out with a Muay Thai stance, bouncing his lead leg. Dvalishvili opens with a spinning kick, but doesn’t fully connect. Aldo checks a leg kick. Dvalishvili darts forward with a combination. A moment later, Dvalishvili shoots in for a takedown, but can’t complete the single leg. Dvalishvili lands a leg kick and Aldo fires one back. Dvalishvili kicks again after Aldo lands a punch. After a few seconds of no action, Dvalishvili shoots in for another takedown attempt, but Aldo defends it against the fence. A nice punch lands for Aldo on the exit. A nice punch to the body lands for Aldo, and a knee to the body as Dvalishvili darts forward. Dvalishvili misses with a spinning kick. He goes to it again moment later, and a wild exchange follows as Aldo darts in with a flying knee. 10-9 Aldo.
Round 2: Dvalishvili shoots in for a takedown, but despite it being well-timed, Aldo keeps things standing as they clinch against the cage. Unbothered by the action, Aldo throws his hands up and the crowd reacts. They separate a moment later. Aldo charges forward with strikes, and just misses a high kick. Dvalishvili gets back in on the hips for a takedown attempt, but once again, results in a clinch against the cage. Aldo throws a left and they return to the center. Dvalishvili goes right back in for another takedown, but is not successful. Another clinch from Dvalishvili prompts boos from the crowd. They break apart again for a moment, but Dvalishvili goes right back in on the hips before the round ends. Dvalishvili 10-9.
Round 3: Dvalishvili keeps the pressure high as Aldo circles slowly on the outside. A leg kick from Dvalishvili lands. Aldo answers to the body, but Dvalishvili remains close. A left from Aldo lands and Dvalishvili looks to clinch. They separate, and Dvalishvili keeps pressing with punches. Aldo circles away to reset, but Dvalishvili continues his forward pressure. Aldo punches to the body, followed by a left hand upstairs. Dvalishvili shoots for another takedown, stuffed again. Dvalishvili goes right back in for another. The crowd is booing the action, but Dvalishvili is effective in shutting down Aldo. Dvalishvili throws hard knees to the thighs. They separate and the horn sounds, ending the fight. Dvalishvili 10-9.
Result: Merab Dvalishvili def. Jose Aldo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Co-Main Event: Paulo Costa (13-2) vs. Luke Rockhold (16-5) at Middleweight (185lbs)
Round 1: Rockhold moves forward with kicks and punches, and then looks for a takedown. Costa lands a hard punch in the moment that may have hurt Rockhold. They separate and Costa moves forward. He lands another clean punch. Rockhold tried to grab a Thai clinch, but Costa changes levels and gets a takedown. Costa passes to side control and then takes full mount. Rockhold immediately powers his way up and gets a guillotine attempt. Costa gets free and ends up in mount again a moment later. Rockhold escapes, and lands a punch before they reset to the center. Rockhold unleashes a series of hard left kicks to the body as Costa waves him on. Rockhold tries for a spinning back kick to the body and connects. Costa continues to move forward and clinches. Rockhold tries for a hip toss, but can’t get it and they return to the center again. Rockhold lands a nice right hand before the last exchange of the round. 10-9 Costa.
Round 2: Rockhold unleashes more strikes and then looks for a takedown. Costa gets down momentarily, but gets up and then begins to lead the action. A spinning roundhouse kick lands from Rockhold. Both fighters appear tired now. Rockhold goes back to the body kick followed by a leg kick. Costa lands a kick to the body. The action is paused for an accidental eye poke from Rockhold. Once the action resumes, Rockhold is visibly exhausted. Costa goes for a big wheel kick, but catches air. Costa goes to the body with a punch, but his aim is off and it ends up hitting Rockhold below the belt. Rockhold folds to the canvas, and is given time to recover. The fight resumes and Costa keeps pressing. A spinning back kick to the body from Rockhold lands. Costa keeps pressing ahead and punches to the midsection. A hard kick to the body gets through for Costa. Rockhold circles away and the round ends soon after. Costa 10-9.
Round 3: Rockhold still appears tired to start the round and Costa presses the action early. Costa then hurts Rockhold, but is caught by a hard left hand. Rockhold’s movements are very labored, but he still finds a way to land another hard left hand. Rockhold takes a shot for a takedown and Costa sprawls to gain side control. Costa moves to mount and the fighters can be heard talking to each other. Costa looks for a rear-naked choke. Eventually, Rockhold completes a spin, taking top mount with half a minute left to go. Rockhold rubbed his head all over Costa’s face to smear the blood from his cuts before the fight ends. Costa 10-9
Result: Paulo Costa def. Luke Rockhold via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Main Event: (c) Kamaru Usman (20-1) vs. Leon Edwards (19-3) for the UFC Welterweight Championship. (155lbs)
Round 1: Edwards tries to open with a kick, but Usman catches it. Edwards spins away and then kicks to the lead leg again. A couple of more kicks from Edwards land on the lead leg of Usman. Usman presses forward with a leg kick, and then shoots for a takedown. Edwards defends well initially, but Usman sticks with it and eventually finds his way on top. Usman throws a couple of strikes from the top, but Edwards keeps moving and scrambles his way back to a standing clinch position. Usman pins Edwards against the fence for a few moments. Edwards takes control and gets a takedown on Usman, and quickly finds his way to the champ’s back. Edwards locks in a body triangle and begins to look for a rear-naked choke. Usman remains calm and defends the position. They both land short punches before the horn sounds. 10-9 Edwards.
Round 2: Edwards opens the round with a front kick to the body. The champ clinches with Edwards, but they separate. Usman keeps with the heavy forward pressure and unloads a series of hard punches while Edwards covers up against the cage. An accidental eye poke to Usman causes a brief pause to the action. A punch lands for the champ as Edwards closes the distance. Edwards responds with a hard left hand. Usman then lands a right. Edwards answers again with a left. They clinch against the fence and Usman hits a few foot stomps. Edwards shoots for a takedown. Usman sprawls and they get back to the feet. Usman presses Edwards into the fence and unloads more punches. Edwards fires back, but Usman changes levels and completes a nice takedown. The champ lands a couple of punches before the horn sounds. 10-9 Usman.
Round 3: Edwards looks for the inside leg kick. They exchange punches followed by the champ getting an easy takedown. Edwards gets back to his feet fairly quickly, but still has Usman controlling his hips against the cage. Edwards shakes free, but Usman keeps the pressure high. Hard punches and a clean elbow land for the champ against the cage. He follows it up with another takedown, and begins looking to take the back. Referee Herb Dean warns Edwards for grabbing the inside of Usman’s gloves. The champ scrambles back to a standing position, pinning Edwards in the corner with a front headlock. Usman lands a couple of punches as Edwards gets back to his feet. 10-9 Usman.
Round 4: Usman presses ahead and misses with a punch, which gives Edwards an opening to shoot in for a takedown. He pushes Usman against the cage and gets one hook in, but the champ doesn’t seem bothered. Usman breaks free a moment later, and immediately gets right back in on Edwards’ hips for another easy takedown. Working from full guard, Usman punches to the body with the right hand, and elbows to the head with the left arm. Edwards gets his back against the fence and gets to one knee. Back to standing now, Usman keeps the clinch. Edwards blatantly grabs the cage, prompting the referee to reset the position on the ground. Usman keeps the clinch for a moment, but decides to let go and throw a flurry of hard punches before the horn. 10-9 Usman.
Round 5: The crowd becomes restless as the action is slow in the opening moments, but then Usman unloads a combination of punches to set up a clinch. The champ stomps the feet of Edwards. The referee calls for action, threatening to break up the position and once again admonishes Edwards for grabbing the gloves. Edwards front kicks to the body. Another one follows. A third kick from Edwards lands, but it goes low, pausing the action. They resume with 1:50 left in the fight. Edwards kicks to the inside of the lead leg. Time is ticking away for the challenger as he stands in front of the champ. Edwards feints the left hand, and a vicious head kick connects, putting Usman out cold. Lightning strikes out of nowhere, and Edwards is the new welterweight champion with just seconds left on the clock.
Result: Leon Edwards def. Kamaru Usman via knockout (head kick) – Round 5th to become the new UFC Welterweight champion.
