UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2 most anticipated, several additional fights confirmed

The reigning UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman will defend his 170-pound title against longtime rival Leon Edwards on August 20 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Usman vs Edwards fight will be the main event of the upcoming UFC 278. Check out the best bookmakers for betting on the UFC!

On Friday, the remaining seats will go on sale to the general public through Ticketmaster (June 24). There are only eight tickets available per person. UFC Fight Club members will be able to purchase tickets beginning Wednesday, June 22 at 10 a.m.

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According to the UFC website, Usman is the world’s best fighter, and Edwards is the world’s third-best welterweight. Edwards is the fourth-ranked welterweight in the world. Usman and Edwards previously met in 2015. Usman won the first fight unanimously.

At UFC 278, Usman will attempt to tie Anderson Silva’s record by winning his 16th consecutive fight. Usman has a 20-1 career record. His most recent fight occurred in November 2021, while he was recovering from a broken hand. Edwards comes into the fight having won his last ten fights. He has a 19-3 career record with one no-contest. Edwards’ final fight was set for June 20, 2021. Six of Edwards’ career wins have come via technical knockout.

In addition to the main event, “Usman vs. Edwards 2,” the UFC 278 promotion formally confirmed additional 12 fights for the event on Monday. Five of the fights had never been announced before. A heavyweight clash between Alexander Romanov and Marcin Tybura is one of the notable new entries.

Alexandr Romanov vs. Marcin Tybura

Romanov has emerged as a promising heavyweight prospect after winning his first 16 fights in a row. The 31-year-old Moldovan has won four of his five UFC fights, including a first-round victory over Chase Sherman on April 30. Tybura’s five-fight unbeaten streak came to an end in October with a majority decision loss to Alexander Volkov at UFC 267. In the UFC, the former M-1 Global champion is 9-6.

In addition, UFC 278 features a middleweight fight between former 185-pound champion Luke Rockhold and former title challenger Paulo Costa. At bantamweight, Jose Aldo will face Merab Dvalishvili, 145-pound Luis Saldana will face Sean Woodson; Amir Albazi and Francisco Figueiredo will compete at flyweight.

Albazi of Sweden has won 14 of his 15 professional fights, including back-to-back wins in the UFC over Malcolm Gordon and Zhalgas Zhumagulov. Albazi competed for Brave FC and Bellator MMA before joining the UFC. In the meantime, Figueiredo has won two of his first three UFC fights. At UFC on ESPN 35 on April 30, the brother of UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo submitted Lacerda with a kneebar.

Here is the most recent UFC 278 fight card, as well as the additional fights:

Jose Aldo squares off against No. 6 Merab Dvalishvili, a former UFC featherweight champion and current No. 3 ranked bantamweight contender;

No. 4 ranked middleweight contender Paulo Costa hopes to derail former champion Luke Rockhold’s return;

Amir Albazi squares off against Francisco Figueiredo at flyweight;

No. 10 ranked heavyweight contender Marcin Tybura squares off against undefeated No. 13 Alexandre

Wu Yanan will fight in a bantamweight bout against Lucie Pudilova;

Tyson Pedro faces Harry Hunsucker at light heavyweight;

Daniel Lacerda takes on Victor Altamirano in a flyweight fight,

At bantamweight, Aoriqileng will face Jay Perrin.

AJ Fletcher faces Ange Loosa in a welterweight fight,

Sean Woodson squares off against Luis Saldana in a battle of promising featherweight prospects.