Will it be repeat or revenge at UFC 278? Who will walk out of Utah the UFC welterweight champion? Those are the big questions that are being asked as Kamaru Usman defends his title against Leon Edwards on August 20.
This is a rematch from 2015, where Edwards lost to Usman. Their careers have taken interesting turns since then, as Usman won UFC gold and is widely considered by many the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC today.
Edwards has emerged as a true contender and this is his his first crack at UFC gold. "Rocky" is looking to make the most of the opportunity. He's won nine straight fights since that initial loss to Usman and he believes now is the right time for him to show that he is a different fighter.
“I don’t think it’s going to be easy,” Edwards told MMA Junkie. “I want to take it away from him, and I plan to do that. I’m not going in there looking for an easy fight. I’m going in there to beat the champion and become the champion. He was the last guy to beat me. Everyone claims he’s pound-for-pound (best). They say he can’t be beaten. It’s the perfect time for it to happen, and I can’t wait.”
Since debuting in the UFC in 2015, Usman, winner of The Ultimate Fighter, has gone 15-0. He is considered one of the most dominant fighters in UFC history, beating the likes of Demian Maia, Rafael dos Anjos, Tyron Woodley, Colby Covington, and Jorge Masvidal. Since winning the UFC welterweight title in 2019 from Woodley, he has defended the belt five times. Usman's last fight was another win over Covington in November.
Recently, Usman has undergone hand surgery.
Edwards has gone 11-1 with one no-contest for the UFC since losing his first fight for the promotion. Since the Usman loss he has won nine in a row. The 30-year-old last fought in June 2021, beating Nate Diaz at UFC 263. After years of patience, Edwards is now getting his time to shine.
MORE: Sign up to watch the UFC 278 PPV, exclusively on ESPN+
The Sporting News has you covered with all the information needed to watch UFC 278, including start time, live stream information and PPV cost.
What time does UFC 278 start today?
- Date: Saturday, August 20
- FIGHT PASS Prelims: 6 p.m. ET
- Prelims: 8 p.m. ET
- Main card: 10 p.m. ET
- Main event: 12:15 a.m. ET (approximately)
UFC 278 takes place on Aug. 20. The FIGHT PASS prelims will begin at around 6 p.m. ET. The prelims will go live at 8 p.m. ET and the main card starts at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV. Usman and Edwards should make their way to the octagon around 12:15 a.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
MORE: MMA Schedule 2022: Date, division, location for upcoming fights
How to watch UFC 278: Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards 2
- TV channels: ESPN+
- Live stream: ESPN+, UFC Fight Pass
The main card for UFC 278 is available in the U.S. and Mexico on the ESPN+ subscription streaming service for a pay-per-view cost.
Earlier fights are viewable live on ESPN+, the WatchESPN app, and, for the early prelims, on UFC Fight Pass.
In Canada, the main card pay-per-view is available on TSN, Bell, Rogers, Shaw, Eastlink, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.
In the United Kingdom, the main card will be available on BT Sport, with the prelims available on UFC Fight Pass.
In Australia, the main card will be on Main Event, Kayo Sports, FOXTEL, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.
Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards 2 price: How much does UFC 278 cost?
- $74.99 (current ESPN+ subscribers)
- $99.98 (new subscribers)
In the U.S., the UFC 278 main card is available via pay-per-view on ESPN+, which also requires a subscription. The PPV price for UFC 278 is $74.99 for current subscribers. New subscribers can pay a bundle price of $99.98 for the UFC 278 pay-per-view and an ESPN+ annual subscription, which offers savings of more than 30 percent.
MORE: Sign up to watch the UFC 278 PPV, exclusively on ESPN+
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $9.99/month |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $99.99/year |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $13.99/month |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $19.99/month |
| UFC PPV Standalone | $74.99 each |
| UFC PPV Package (UFC PPV & ESPN+ Annual) | $99.98, then $69.99/year |
| UFC PPV & The Disney Bundle | $88.98, then $13.99/month |
Click here to learn about the different pricing and bundling options with the ESPN+ platform.
*Going into effect August 23, ESPN+'s monthly subscription will change from $6.99/mo to $9.99/mo. The annual ESPN+ subscription package will change from $69.99/yr to $99.99/yr.
There is no change to the standalone PPV, or to the Disney Bundle.
UFC 278 fight card
Main card
- Kamaru Usman (c) vs. Leon Edwards 2 for the UFC welterweight title
- Jose Aldo vs. Merab Dvalishvili; Bantamweights
- Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold; Middleweights
- Wu Yanan vs. Lucie Pudilova; Bantamweights
- Tyson Pedro vs. Harry Hunsucker; Light Heavyweights
Prelims
- Marcin Tybura vs. Alexandr Romanov; Heavyweights
- Leonardo Santos vs. Jared Gordon; Lightweights
- Sean Woodson vs. Luis Saldana; Featherweights
FIGHT PASS Prelims
- A.J. Fletcher vs. Ange Loosa; Welterweights
- Amir Albazi vs. Francisco Figueiredo; Flyweights
- Aori Qileng vs. Jay Perrin; Bantamweights
- Daniel Lacerda vs. Victor Altamirano; Flyweights
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