UFC 286: Edwards-Usman will battle on March 18 in London
UFC president Dana White said Saturday that welterweight champion Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman will continue their trilogy at UFC 286 on March 18 in London.
In one of the most surprising moments in MMA history, Edwards knocked out Usman to win the title last August. Edwards was behind Usman on the scorecards until he delivered a head kick with less than a minute remaining in the fifth round.
Leon Edwards stunned the UFC community when he defeated Kamaru Usman to capture the welterweight belt last year. Usman trailed the battle at first, but in the last 10 seconds, he grabbed control and demonstrated his class. No one can disagree that this UFC title fight was one of the best in the organization’s history. Usman was defeated by a wonderfully placed head kick from Edwards in the closing 10 seconds of the fight, making it one of the most memorable moments in UFC history. Since then, Edwards has been looking for his chance to exact retribution, and it now looks that he will, as the UFC has finalised their fight.
The announcements keep on coming: @Leon_EdwardsMMA puts his WW title on the line against @Usman84kg in the #UFC286 main event, with @Justin_Gaethje taking on @RafaelFiziev in the co-main!
[ Get your tickets early at https://t.co/C6eU8mzrqg 🎟 ] pic.twitter.com/BADUYhFIdc
— UFC (@ufc) January 15, 2023
Usman, the UFC’s former pound-for-pound champion, beat Edwards in their first fight in 2015.
Almost soon after, rumours of a trilogy began, with both competitors expressing interest in rematching at a future UFC event in England. There was anticipation that Usman’s hand surgery and injury might cause a delay in the bout, but the planned timetable remained unchanged.
This year I want to stand as tall as I possibly can and also be as far from the ceiling as possible.
I want to stretch my arms and feel no walls. Ultimate Freedom is the goal “st john” 2023 we breakthrough!!! pic.twitter.com/YsyNVKVh7y
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) December 31, 2022
Now, Edwards and Usman will get their dream, with the welterweight title match set for March 18 in London.
Edwards, who resides in Birmingham, England, is undefeated in 11 fights and hasn’t lost since his first match with “The Nigerian Nightmare.”
Usman has not lost since his second professional fight in 2013. Usman was 15-0 in the UFC before to his loss against Edwards, and he was attempting to tie Anderson Silva’s record for the longest winning run in the promotion’s existence.
Leon Edwards landed the 'Knockout of the Year' for 2022 💥
Full Voting Results 📰 https://t.co/KWWuT0AdJ0 pic.twitter.com/tyaVbm7hjG
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) December 25, 2022
UFC 286 will also include a newly announced lightweight co-main event between Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev, the promotion’s first pay-per-view event in the United Kingdom since 2016.
On the night, there are other fights between Marvin Vettori and Roman Dolidze, Nathaniel Wood and Leon Murphy, Jennifer Maia and Casey O’Neil, and Daniel Rodriguez and Gunnar Nelson.
