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
Wood vs Carolina – Round 2
Wood flicks out a front kick upstairs but misses. She backs up Carolina now, and the flyweights exchange awkward hooks.
A right hook lands clean for Carolina, who then tags her opponent with a left cross. Wood responds with an oblique kick to the knee.
Good elbows in close by Wood now, in a bit of payback for Carolina’s shots in Round 1!
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Wood vs Carolina – Round 1
Wood blocks a head kick. The women clinch, and Carolina lands a knee and elbow in close.
More strikes connect for Carolina, in a strong end to the round for the Brazilian.
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Wood vs Carolina – Round 1
Wood misses with a one-two, and Carolina grabs her against the fence. The pair reverse the position back and forth.
They trade knees to the body before separating, and Wood just misses with a left hook. Now the Glaswegian lands an oblique kick to the knee of Carolina.
Carolina tries a spinning back elbow, the shot she was knocked out with in this very ring 12 months ago!
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Next up is a women’s flyweight bout between Scotland’s Joanne Wood and Luana Carolina.
Brazil’s Carolina was on the receiving end of Molly McCann’s iconic, spinning-back-elbow knockout last March.
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Jai Herbert vs Ludovit Klein ends as majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28).
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Herbert vs Klein – Round 3
Herbert is in control on the mat but can’t find the shot or hold that he needs. Klein does well to reverse the position, and now Herbert is on his back and against the fence.
The lightweights stand, and we’ll go to the judges’ scorecards.
With Herbert having been docked a point, the best-case scenario for the Briton may be a draw...
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
“How times change,” Leon Edwards remarks. When the UFC welterweight champion ventures into the heart of the O2 Arena tonight, he will be doing so almost three years to the day after the venue’s veins suffered an untimely blockage.
In 2020, Edwards was due for a main-event showdown with former champion Tyron Woodley, only for the onset of the Covid pandemic to consign the fight to an ether of lost contests. “I was heartbroken, devastated,” Edwards says.
But how times change. And this, a defiant Edwards insists, is his time.
Read our interview with the champion ahead of his trilogy bout with Kamaru Usman tonight:
Leon Edwards: ‘Kamaru Usman is coming into enemy territory’ at UFC 286
Interview: After dethroning Usman in dramatic fashion, Britain’s second ever UFC champion defends the welterweight belt against his rival in London
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Herbert vs Klein – Round 3
Once again Herbert has Klein against the fence and seems to land a low knee. We’ll have another timeout, and Herbert is docked a point! He likely needs a finish now if he is to win this.
We resume, and the Briton secures a tidy trip! Can he find a submission or mount any significant ground and pound?
He’s landing decent elbows at the moment!
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