LEON Edwards defended his UFC welterweight title after a majority decision win at UFC 286 Saturday night The British fighter came out on top in a five-round bout with Kamaru Usman. Edwards suffered a point deduction in round three but still managed to win.
Leon Edwards delivered a tactical masterclass over a thrilling five rounds to defend his welterweight title at UFC 286 in London.
Rocky’ claimed a majority decision and the overwhelming tension when the scorecards were read out soon morphed into relief and jubilation inside the packed O2 Arena.
The challenger knew full well he was in hostile territory when he was serenaded by the chant: ‘Headshot, dead’, and Edwards rode the wave of his support in a performance of total concentration.
He stuffed most of Usman’s takedown attempts and landed the more punishing shots in the fight, ending as the fresher man.
He was rewarded for punishing Usman with a barrage of leg kicks, slowing the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’, who marched forward with his usual suffocating style but that march became more of a hobble the longer he was sliced up.
Edwards was hoisted onto the shoulders of his team as he celebrated the historic victory.
Usman has now lost back-to-back fights for the first time in his professional fighting career
The British fighter came out on top after the five-round war, with the three judges scoring it 48-46, 48-46 and 47-47 in his favour.
Edwards suffered a points deduction during the third round, after holding onto the cage, but still managed to come out on top in the huge clash.
Edwards took the first round after some smooth striking and fierce body-kicks looked to have Usman re-thinking his game plan.
Usman stepped up the intensity in the second, maintained control of the octagon and evaded the rare forays forward from the champion, even temporarily landing a couple of takedowns.
It seemed as though the third round could be costly for Edwards, with referee Herb Dean deducting a point for him grabbing the fence to prevent being dragged to the mat.
Usman had his hands locked round the champion’s back but Edwards held onto the cage and was rightly punished for it.
The fifth round was the most one-sided of the fight. Edwards escaped every desperate takedown attempt, slipping clear and landing venomous combinations with regularity.
Still, he and the crowd were unsure who would bring the title home. On balance, the damage inflicted swung it in Edwards’ favour, despite Usman’s pressure and moments of superiority.
Edwards will be glad to see the back of Usman, for now at least. He lives up to his Nightmare moniker and is incredibly tough to beat.
Welterweight is a shark-infested division and Dana White confirmed that Colby Covington would be next in line.
Edwards has now beaten Usman on two occasions after initially beating him in August
Usman pushed forwards with regularity but Edwards managed to escape with neat footwork
While it was a heartbreaking result for Usman, he was all class when he spoke to Daniel Cormier in a post-fight interview inside the Octagon, constantly praising Edwards.
“He put on a hell of a game plan. I have always given him props for everything he has been able to accomplish. Just like me, he’s a brother, like myself, and much respect. A hell of a guy, a great champion. London, what do you say?”
Despite being the challenger in the fight, Kamaru Usman was the heavy favorite to score the win against Leon Edwards. Most people thought that Kamaru Usman would by the end of the night, would go home wearing again the welterweight belt he had to give up when he lost it to Edwards at UFC 278 back in August 2022.