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: Edwards vs Usman
Yanal Ashmoz def. Sam Patterson via first-round KO (1:15).
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Patterson vs Ashmoz – Round 1
Patterson has a staggering height advantage. Can he use his range to his advantage here?
He sees a couple of head kicks blocked, while Ashmoz falls to the mat while swinging his own – it’s a long way up to Patterson’s head!
But now Ashmoz drops the home fighter with an overhand right and left hook!! He pours on ground and pound, and Patterson looks like he’s going in and out of consciousness! Referee Marc Goddard steps in to wave it off!
Patterson is soon back on his feet thankfully, protesting the stoppage, but he’s still not with it.
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Ashmoz is unbeaten at 6-0, while Patterson is 10-1-1 and has won his last six fights.
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Ashmoz makes an acrobatic entrance, cartwheeling across the Octagon, before Patterson makes his ring walk.
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Next up, Dana White’s Contender Series star Sam Patterson makes his UFC debut.
The English lightweight faces Yanal Ashmoz of Israel.
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Muhammad Mokaev def. Jafel Filho via third-round submission (rear naked choke, 2:42).
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Mokaev vs Filho - Round 3
Mokaev gets to work quickly, immediately dragging his opponent to the mat, before attempting, unsuccessfully, to sink in a choke.
A reversal later and Filho has a nasty grip of the Brit’s leg as he pushes for a kneebar, but somehow, Mokaev gets back up, earning the biggest cheer of the night from this London crowd - that looked brutal!
Incredibly, from the depths, Mokaev is able to recover and mount his opponent’s back and sink in a rear-naked choke - forcing Filho to tap!
A fantastic back-and-forth affair.
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
O2 Arena lights fail as UFC 286 fight is about to start
The London arena went dark, seconds before Muhammad Mokaev’s fight with Jafel Filho began
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Mokaev vs Filho - Round 2
After a tentative opening to the second, Mokaev narrowly avoids a rapid combination from Filho, before Mokaev sees a takedown attempt stuffed.
The pair eventually hit the mat, however, as Mokaev finishes the round on top of his opponent.
Both men call for more from the crowd as the bell sounds.
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Mokaev vs Filho - Round 1
The noise has certainly cranked up a few notches inside the O2, well, it had until the lights went off!
When the fight finally gets underway, the two men exchange a number of high kicks, before Filho looks for an early choke.
Mokaev is able to reverse and lands some shots from the top, and controls the rest of the round comfortably.
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