Reasons To Watch UFC 278: Usman vs Edwards 2

If you didn’t watch either of these athletes compete in the last two years, you’d think that this rematch would play out similarly to their first bout seven years ago. Edwards, typically known for his excellent striking, has been vocal in his improvements in his takedown defense and overall ground game. On the flip side, Usman has evolved into an almost entirely standup fighter, finishing opponents like Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns, who many believed had the advantage on the feet.

A win over Edwards would earn Usman his sixth successful title defense and 16th consecutive victory inside the Octagon, a stat currently held by former middleweight champion Anderson Silva. With so much at stake, and virtually two brand-new fighters, talent-wise, since their first meeting, this is a can’t-miss main event in Salt Lake City.

Former Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold Returns To Fight Paulo Costa

After over two years away from competition, Luke Rockhold returns to the Octagon in the co-main event at UFC 278, facing former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa. Rockhold was initially scheduled to make his return in November 2021, but a herniated disc forced him to withdraw from his fight against Sean Strickland.

Defeating Chris Weidman to capture UFC gold at UFC 194: Aldo vs McGregor, Rockhold has since lost three of his last four bouts to Michael Bisping, Yoel Romero and Jan Błachowicz, all by knockout. But with two years away from the sport, Rockhold has allowed his body to fully recover from major injuries and become more comfortable weight cutting to 185 pounds, which could show drastic improvements in his performance and durability on Saturday.

UFC COUNTDOWN: Full Episode | Usman vs Edwards 

Durability is crucial when competing against a knockout artist like Costa, who’s finished 11 of his 13 wins by knockout, including four consecutive finishes after first arriving to the UFC. Like Rockhold, however, his two latest bouts have not gone his way. Losing to middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and Marvin Vettori, Costa suffered his first two defeats in his professional career, and desperately needs a win to begin climbing his way back to a title shot.

Although they haven’t been in the win column as of late, when both athletes are fighting at their best, they are elite level talents capable of being top contenders in a stacked UFC middleweight division.

Former Featherweight Champion José Aldo Continues His Chase For Bantamweight Gold

Also on the main card, No. 13 ranked heavyweight contender Alexandr Romanov will try to extend his record to 17-0 against Marcin Tybura. Joining the UFC in 2020, Romanov immediately showed that he belonged amongst the best heavyweights in the world.

In his debut, Romanov dominated Roque Martinez, earning a second-round submission victory. The first eye-catching trait was how quickly Romanov moved on his feet, landing jumping knees and putting constant pressure on his opponent.

How To Watch UFC 278 In Your Country | Public Events Schedule 

In his last time out, fighting Chase Sherman at UFC Fight Night: Font vs Vera in April, Romanov weighed in at nearly 35 pounds under the divisional limit of 265 pounds. Despite having the weight disadvantage against Sherman, he was able to charge forward and secure a lightning-quick takedown only 20 seconds into the bout.

From then on, Romanov outclassed Sherman on the mat, controlling him with heavy pressure, and transitioning effortlessly until eventually reaching full mount. Landing devastating ground-and-pound, Sherman had no choice but to defend the strikes, leaving an arm exposed for a keylock that Romanov took easy advantage of.

With the blueprint to be an elite fighter in the heavyweight division, Romanov must test himself against his first ranked opponent in Tybura. But if Romanov can get an early takedown and make quick work of a sixth straight foe, there’s no question that Romanov should be in the Top 10 and fighting more of the division’s best very soon.