Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards 2 is a fight seven years in the making. The two streaking welterweights meet at UFC 278 as the promotion touches down at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Usman and Edwards met for the first time in December 2015 on the early prelims of a Fight Night card. Usman won via unanimous decision and continued his warpath to welterweight supremacy. Edwards quietly evolved into one of the most complex puzzles that 170 pounds. Usman and Edwards now headline UFC 278 as champion and title challenger, respectively.
Plus, a highly anticipated bout at middleweight is set for the PPV card when former champion Luke Rockhold makes his return to 185 pounds to take on former title challenger Paulo Costa. Rockhold has not returned to the Octagon since a one-fight sojourn to light heavyweight in 2019 where he was thunderously knocked out by Jan Blachowicz. Rockhold has only fought four times since 2016, including the stunning TKO loss to Michael Bisping to drop the 185-pound title. Costa, meanwhile, started his career a perfect 13-0 but has lost two in a row since 2020, including a TKO loss to Israel Adesanya for the title.
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The card also features some rising prospects looking to make a name for themselves. Light heavyweight Tyson Pedro is looking to continue his winning ways when he meets Henry Hunsucker to open the PPV. Pedro returned from a four-year layoff in April to score a TKO over Ike Villanueva. Plus, undefeated heavyweight Alexander Romanov is set to take on veteran Marcin Tybura on the prelims. Romanov is 16-0 with 15 stoppages so far in his career, nine of which have come by submission. Also, Sean Woodson is back in a featherweight contest against Luis Saldana.
Below is all the information you need to catch UFC 278 on Saturday night.
How to watch UFC 278 prelims
Date: Aug. 20 | Location: Vivint Arena — Salt Lake City
Hour: 8 pm ET (6 pm for early prelims)
Channel: ESPN | Stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
How to watch UFC 278 main card
Date: Aug. 20 | Location: Vivint Arena — Salt Lake City
Hour: 10 p.m. ET
Stream: ESPN+ PPV | Price: $74.99
Now, here’s a look at the UFC 278 main fight card and betting odds via Caesars Sportsbook.
UFC 278 main card, odds
| Kamaru Usman (c) -380 | Leon Edwards +300 | Welterweight title |
| Paulo Costa -410 | Luke Rockhold +310 | Middleweight |
| Merab Dvalishvili -140 | Jose Aldo +120 | Bantamweights |
| Lucie Pudilova -130 | Yu Wanan +110 | Women’s flyweights |
| Tyson Pedro -800 | Henry Hunsucker +550 | Light heavyweights |
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