Anderson Silva became a mixed martial arts legend by winning 16 straight to start his UFC career, setting a mark that seemed to last for a long time. But UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has a chance to tie Silva’s vaunted mark for the promotion’s longest winning streak when he defends his title against the top-ranked challenger Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 278 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Silva’s winning streak and dominance at middleweight has led many to refer to him as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. Usman is now considered the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world and many believe he is in the running for the greatest mythical moniker of all time.
[It’s fantasy football season: Create or join a league now!]
The main event is a one-fight rematch on Dec. 19, 2015, when Usman, one fight close to winning the welterweight crown on “The Ultimate Fighter,” picked up a unanimous decision victory over Edwards.
Usman has won 13 straight since that fight and is riding a 19-fight winning streak with 15 of those wins in the UFC.
Edwards, who is looking to end a rags-to-riches story on Saturday by winning the title after growing up amid crime and poverty in Jamaica and England, has won nine straight no contest wins since losing to Usman in 2015.
In the co-main event, it will be a battle of middleweights who have been battling it out all week. Former Champion Luke Rockholdwho created waves by blowing up the UFC on fighter pay and tearing up a reporter for how the reporter treated his teammate, will meet Paulo Costa.
Rockhold hasn’t fought in over three years, since breaking his nose and jaw in a 2019 loss to Jan Blachowicz. Costa has lost his last two fights.
A fight on the card, a flyweight match between Miranda Maverick and Shanna Young, was canceled on Friday when Young developed a medical condition while losing weight.
UFC 278 Live Blog
UFC 278 fight card, odds (Live now on ESPN+ PPV)
All odds via BetMGM.
Welterweight: Kamaru Usman (c) -350 vs. Leon Edwards +275
Middleweight: Paulo Costa -350 vs. Luke Rockhold +260
Bantamweight: Merab Dvalishvili defeated. José Aldo by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Bantamweight: Lucie Pudilová beats. Wu Yanan by TKO at 4:04 from R2
Light Heavyweight: Tyson Pedro def. Harry Hunsucker by TKO at 1:05 from R1
Full UFC 278 preliminary card results
Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura def. Alexander Romanov by majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)
Lightweight: Jared Gordon def. Leonardo Santos via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Featherweight: Sean Woodson vs. Luis Saldaña ends in a draw (29-27, 27-29, 28-28)
Welterweight: Ange Loosa def. AJ Fletcher via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-82)
UFC 278 first preliminary card full results, highlights
Flyweight: Amir Albazi def. Francisco Figueiredo via submission (rear naked choke) at 4:34 from R1:
Bantamweight: Aori Qileng defeated. Jay Perrin via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Flyweight: Victor Altamirano def. Daniel Lacerda – TKO (Official Video)