:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71269325/1416171060.0.jpg "How a Bettor Made a Big Profit With a UFC Same Game Parlay on DraftKings Sportsbook")
Last Saturday's UFC 278 event featured one of the most shocking knockouts in UFC history, and considering the timing and circumstances, it may have been the most shocking KO ever. With just one minute left in the fight, welterweight title challenger Leon Edwards landed a devastating head kick knockout on champion Kamaru Usman to claim the title.
A DraftKings Sportsbook bettor took advantage of the shocking knockout by turning roughly $2 into over $100 by making this Same Game Parlay (SGP) on DraftKings Sportsbook:
- Leon Edwards Moneyline
- Total Rounds – 4.5 Rounds
- Exact Method of Victory – KO/TKO/DQ
The knockout was among the most shocking ever for a variety of reasons. Usman entered UFC 278 on a massive hot streak and had recently entered the conversation for greatest welterweight of all time. Usman had gone 15-0 in the UFC-including 6-0 in title fights-and was just one win shy of tying Anderson Silva for the longest win streak in UFC history with 16 straight wins.
Usman had dominated the 170-pound division so badly that there was talk of him moving up to light heavyweight (205 pounds) to challenge for the title in that weight class. There was also talk of Usman crossing over to boxing to fight superstar boxer Canelo Alvarez in order to give him a new challenge.
As a result, Usman entered UFC 278 as a substantial favorite, carrying a moneyline of -345 on DraftKings Sportsbook. Usman was also widely popular among the public, receiving 77% of the handle and 86% of the bets on DraftKings Sportsbook. Edwards by KO/TKO/DQ got just 6% of the handle and 4% of bets.
Edwards had a strong opening round and won Round 1 on all three of the judges' scorecards, but Usman began to take over as the fight went on. Usman won Rounds 2, 3, and 4 on all three of the judges' scorecards and appeared set to win Round 5 as well. Usman was just one minute away from cruising to another win in a weight class he has dominated, which amplified how shocking the knockout was. This would be similar to a powerhouse NFL team being up 35-10 with one minute left in the game yet somehow losing to the underdog. Due to the presence of the knockout, the UFC is one of the only sports in the world where it is never truly over until the clock runs out, and as a result, DraftKings Sportsbook bettors usually have some degree of life until the very end.
The knockout was set up brilliantly by Edwards. Edwards, who was standing southpaw, had noticed that Usman was exiting his head towards Edwards' left after parrying when Edwards threw his left straight. In an orthodox stance, an orthodox fighter must always be outside the lead leg of a southpaw, otherwise, the orthodox fighter risks sitting in the southpaw's power range. Usman, who was standing orthodox, got caught standing inside of Edwards' lead leg, which put him at risk to take the full force of a shot that Edwards threw from his left side.
To gain clearance to land the kick, Edwards threw a left hand down the middle, and as Usman reached to parry with his hands, Edwards followed up with a left head kick that Usman ducked his head directly into:
HOLY S**T!!!! @LEON_EDWARDSMMA IS THE WW CHAMPION OF THE WORLD!!! #UFC278 pic.twitter.com/Ms9rwG1Ota
– UFC (@ufc) August 21, 2022