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
Kamaru Usman has vowed to ‘get violent’ in his trilogy bout with Leon Edwards tonight, as the former champion bids to regain the welterweight title in the main event of UFC 286.
The Nigerian-American has claimed that he is in a rare, violent mindset heading into his third clash with Edwards, and he told reporters on Wednesday: “I go in there to dominate, I go in there to win, that has never changed. It’s time for me to go in there and get violent.
“I’ve felt violent going into three fights. I felt violent going into the Sergio Moraes fight [in 2017], because I’d been asking for a top-15 [opponent], and I felt disrespected that the UFC matchmakers kept giving me guys that weren’t in the top 15. I felt very, very violent and resentful, and I wanted to show that. We saw what happened [Usman knocked out Moraes in Round 1].”
Find out the other bouts in which Usman ‘felt violent’, here:
Kamaru Usman reveals the three UFC fights he has entered with ‘violent’ intentions
Usman will try to regain the welterweight title from Leon Edwards on Saturday, seven months after losing the belt to his old foe
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
We open the prelims with a fun flyweight bout, as Muhammad Mokaev faces Jafel Filho.
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
As we await the start of the prelims, here are the early prelim results in full:
Lerone Murphy def. Gabriel Santos via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Christian Leroy Duncan def. Dusko Todorovic via first-round TKO (knee injury, 1:52)
Jake Hadley def. Malcolm Gordon via first-round TKO (body punches, 1:01)
Joanne Wood def. Luana Carolina via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
Jai Herbert vs Ludovit Klein ends as majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
Veronica Hardy def. Juliana Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Wow, not the scorecards I was expecting.
The decision feels a touch harsh on Santos, who secured a number of takedowns, including an eye-catching slam in the third, but the home crowd love it!
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Lerone Murphy def. Gabriel Santos via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28).
The fight of the night so far, and the Briton edges past the Brazilian!
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Murphy vs Santos - Round 3
Santos earns yet another takedown early in the round.
Murphy gets back to his feet and lands two nice elbows, before a head-kick is blocked by Santos.
Santos is able to fully pick up a tired-looking Murphy, before slamming him to the ground, resulting in loud groans from the crowd.
A really strong performance from Gabriel Santos, who may have edged this fight.
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Kamaru Usman opened up this week on how he talked his daughter through his knockout loss to Leon Edwards in August.
Speaking about how he explained the result to his nine-year-old daughter Samirah, Usman told The Independent on Wednesday: “Immediately after it happened, I didn’t necessarily see her; she went back to my house in Utah and passed out, because it was late.
“I came over, she slept – she was in my bed. We woke up, and I just had a conversation with her. I told her, ‘Sometimes you lose, sometime you win. Most of the time we win, but sometimes you lose! You’ve got to train hard and get back up there again.’
“When it initially happened she was upset, but the next day she just wanted to play. It was like she didn’t really give a s*** that it happened. That’s the wonderful thing about it: At the end of the day, this is just a competition, and I’m still ‘dad’ to her.
“That’s the beautiful thing about kids: No matter what we do, how big I get, how ‘famous’, how ‘unbeatable’, I’m just ‘dad’ to her. Kids will always remind you of that.”
More here:
Kamaru Usman opens up on daughter’s reaction to Leon Edwards knockout
Usman lost the welterweight title to Edwards via head kick in August, and the pair clash again on Saturday in the UFC 286 main event
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Murphy vs Santos - Round 3
The third and final round of this entertaining affair gets underway with a hug between the fighters in scenes slightly different to the staredown at the end of the first...
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Murphy vs Santos - Round 2
Murphy is stunned to the ground with a low attack, before Santos is able to execute a beautiful single-leg takedown and secure the Englishman’s back.
The final minute of the round sees Murphy work brilliantly well to avoid being submitted by the Brazilian by a choke.
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Murphy vs Santos - Round 2
Murphy lands a strong left to open the round, before stuffing a takedown attempt.
The pair grapple, before Murphy is able to land his first takedown of the bout!
Murphy switches stances and appears to catch Santos with a low blow, leading to a break in the action...
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