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
Herbert vs Klein – Round 3
Herbert with a nice step-in knee to the body. Klein replies with a one-two up top.
Herbert holds Klein against the fence and throws a knee, but Klein suggests that it landed low, and the referee pauses the action.
We resume, and it quickly becomes a firefight! Herbert needs to be careful here...
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Herbert vs Klein – Round 2
Lots of inside leg kicks from Herbert as the round progresses. The crowd is becoming a bit restless, though.
Klein backs up Herbert yet again and connects with a slick right cross, then a left hook late in the round.
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Herbert vs Klein – Round 2
Klein comes forward early in this round. He misses with a head kick, then narrowly with a left hook.
Herbert can’t get his back off the cage, and eventually Klein closes the distance and lands a solid knee in close.
Now the Slovak grabs ahold of Herbert, but they soon separate. Herbert lands a grazing head kick then a right cross. now an inside low kick, but Klein responds with a left hook that lands this time.
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Herbert vs Klein – Round 1
The pair briefly clinch and trade knees in close. Klein is bleeding from above his left eye.
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Herbert vs Klein – Round 1
Herbert and Klein both miss with head kicks early on. Lots of feinting from each man.
Klein with a decent southpaw jab as he backs up Herbert. Klein then secures a takedown and gets straight into full guard.
Slovak Klein does his best to get off some elbows, but Herbert keeps him in close. The Briton briefly tries for an armbar, while intermittently throwing hammer fists from his back.
Klein stands and eats an up kick! Now Herbert stands and absorbs a head kick!
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Next up is Britain’s Jai Herbert against Ludovit Klein at lightweight!
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Veronica Hardy def. Juliana Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Heavy leg kicks from Hardy, before she takes down Miller once more!
One minute left in the opening bout of the evening.
Again Miller fights her way back to her feet, but she eats a clean head kick! The crowd enjoyed that one.
Now Hardy grapples Miller against the fence, before securing a body lock and trip!
Hardy ends the fight on top. We’ll go to the judges’ scorecards.
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Round 3 is under way and again Hardy flirts with danger, this time having to fight off a Kimura attempt from Miller.
Miller changes tack and tries a leg lock, but Hardy stays calm and buries heavy punches into the ribs of her opponent, who is laying flat on top of her.
Eventually Hardy slips her leg free and takes the back of Miller, before the pair stand and separate.
UFC 286 LIVE: Edwards vs Usman
Midway through Round 2, Hardy has just about avoided getting caught in an armbar on a couple of occasions now while inside Miller’s guard.
In fact, Hardy has mounted some effective ground and pound and created a nasty goose egg on Miller’s forehead!
Again Hardy survives an armbar just before the buzzer!
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