UFC: Leon Edwards gets rousing reception from fans in the UK after beating Kamaru Usman

British UFC star Leon Edwards was given a champion’s welcome as he arrived back in the UK with a welterweight world title belt following his stunning KO of Kamaru Usman on Saturday night.

Edwards delivered one of the most iconic moments in UFC history to stun Usman in Salt Lake City with a devastating head kick with one minute left on the clock, with ‘Rocky’ becoming just the second British champion after Michael Bisping.

And the Birmingham fighter rightfully received a rousing reception after landing back in the UK from Utah – with fans surrounding him at the airport and screaming ‘Champ! Champ! Champ’ as he posed with his new belt.

British UFC star Leon Edwards was given a rousing reception after his win over Karamu Usman

Edwards savoured the celebrations as he danced while his followers chanted ‘Champ! Champ!’

Edwards is the second British UFC champion and follows in the footsteps of Michael Bisping, who won his belt in 2016

The 30-year-old wore a black cap and sunglasses as he strolled out of the arrivals terminal, with delighted supporters rushing up to him to hug him and shake his hand. He then gets a round of applause as he takes a picture with a fan. 

The group that had gathered then begin to chant ‘Champ!’ before yelling his nickname ‘Rocky!’ repeatedly – and Edwards himself seemed to revel in the celebrations as he lifted his arm aloft and danced around. 

Edwards will be savouring his victory for some time after shocking the world and doing so in seemingly impossibly circumstances – having been starring at a defeat before pulling off his incredible late stoppage.

He was emotional inside the Octagon during his post-fight interview, insisting he was always adamant he would pull off the victory and become champion.

Edwards knocked Kamaru Usman unconscious with this incredible head kick to shock the world 

Usman slumped to the canvas and ‘Rocky’ knew instantly the fight was over in the last minute

‘I cant put it into words,’ he said. ‘It’s been a long, long four years. They all said I couldn’t do it, look at me now! Pound-for-pound, headshot, dead! 

‘It doesn’t matter, I’m from the trenches. I’m built like this. I’ve been doubted my whole life, but look at me now. Look at me now. 

‘I told you it’s possible to win a belt for the UK. I told you!’

Edwards had already faced Usman in 2015, with the American then dominating him to secure a unanimous decision victory. Seven years later Edwards had more than earned his shot after a run of ten straight wins, and left Usman unconscious with his viscious head kick.

He vowed to bounce back after the fight on Twitter, congratulating Edwards for his impressive performance.

‘Champions f$ck up sometimes,’ Usman wrote. ‘But we bounce back and come with vengeance!

Usman has vowed to hit back after his shock defeat by Edwards at UFC 278

UFC chief Dana White said there will be trilogy fight and it could be held at Wembley

‘Damn I love this sport!!! Things happen but… Alhamdulillah we move!! Congratulations Leon Edwards.’

UFC chief Dana White talked up the possibility of a trilogy and said Wembley Stadium was a contender for the next instalment.

‘How do you not do it?’ White said about a third fight. ‘Wembley… yeah.’

White said of the fight: ‘I thought that Usman fought the perfect fight. It’s crazy, I was listening to the commentary of Joe Rogan, Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier, and they were spot on in everything they were saying about what Leon needed to do. 

‘And as soon as they were saying it, he literally lands the head-kick.

‘Usman fought with absolute and total confidence all night. 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 the head, elbows – he couldn’t have fought a more perfect fight.

‘There are no lopsided, one-sided, fights in this sport. The problem with this fight was, people wouldn’t give Leon enough credit. He’s a very dangerous opponent.’