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

Moment Leon Edwards retains UFC title after decision win against Kamaru Usman

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 (C) def. Usman via majority decision (48-46, 48-46, 47-47)
• Watch: O2 Arena erupts as Edwards is revealed as winner over Usman
• Watch: UFC president says Colby Covington is next for Edwards
• Gaethje def. Fiziev via majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)
• Plus: All the undercard results live from the O2 Arena
• Watch: O2 Arena lights go out as fight is about to start
• Watch: Shore ‘didn’t want to take’ fight because of father’s chemotherapy
• Watch: Mokaev was ‘willing to let knee rip’ in nasty submission

[19 March 2023 00:32 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman

[19 March 2023 01:35 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman

Edwards says he has “no ill will” towards Usman.

[19 March 2023 01:31 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman

Edwards: “With the Colby fight, there’s literally no storylines. He just sat out for a year.”

[19 March 2023 01:27 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman

Edwards says he called his mother after tonight’s win, as he did after his victory over Usman in August, but that he was more “excited” this time; “There were no tears.”

[19 March 2023 01:23 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman

[19 March 2023 01:21 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman

Edwards on White saying Covington is next for a title shot: “I don’t see how that makes sense. There have been other guys who’ve been active, haven’t sat out. I feel I should decide who is next.”

[19 March 2023 01:19 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman

Edwards: “I think it just proved how much I’ve improved over the years. I think that showed now that altitude played a big part in my performance [in the second fight with Usman].”

[19 March 2023 00:49 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman

White says Edwards vs Colby Covington is “the fight to make”.

‘That’s next?’ “Yeah.”

[19 March 2023 00:47 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman

UFC president Dana White says he didn’t score the main event, but says: “It was a tough fight to score.”

[19 March 2023 00:32 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 286 LIVE: Leon Edwards (C) def. Kamaru Usman