UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman result and reaction
Follow live updates as Leon Edwards defends the welterweight title against Kamaru Usman, after Justin Gaethje faces Rafael Fiziev
Leon Edwards retained his welterweight title against Kamaru Usman on Saturday, outpointing his rival in the main event of UFC 286 at London’s O2 Arena.
Jamaican-born Edwards knocked out Usman in stunning fashion in August, taking the belt from the Nigerian-American to become Britain’s second ever UFC champion. For Edwards, the result also marked revenge for a points loss to Usman in 2015, meaning Saturday’s main event rounded out a trilogy between the pair.
And Edwards made it 2-1 against his old foe, emerging from the O2 as a majority-decision winner after a tense clash in front of a raucous crowd.
In the co-main event, former interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje edged past Rafael Fiziev, in a fight that was almost guaranteed to steal the show – and did just that.
Re-live updates and see all results from UFC 286, below. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos.
UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman
UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman
Edwards says he has “no ill will” towards Usman.
UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman
Edwards: “With the Colby fight, there’s literally no storylines. He just sat out for a year.”
UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman
Edwards says he called his mother after tonight’s win, as he did after his victory over Usman in August, but that he was more “excited” this time; “There were no tears.”
UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman
UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman
Edwards on White saying Covington is next for a title shot: “I don’t see how that makes sense. There have been other guys who’ve been active, haven’t sat out. I feel I should decide who is next.”
UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman
Edwards: “I think it just proved how much I’ve improved over the years. I think that showed now that altitude played a big part in my performance [in the second fight with Usman].”
UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman
White says Edwards vs Colby Covington is “the fight to make”.
‘That’s next?’ “Yeah.”
UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman
UFC president Dana White says he didn’t score the main event, but says: “It was a tough fight to score.”
UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman
Leon Edwards outpoints Kamaru Usman to retain welterweight title at UFC 286
The Jamaican-born Briton was a majority-decision winner over Usman, seven months after dethroning the Nigerian-American with a stunning, late head kick
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