UFC 286 Edwards Vs. Usman 3: Preview And Where To Watch Info
Live from the O2 Arena in London, welterweight champion Leon Edwards and former titleholder Kamaru Usman are ready to square off in the main event for UFC 286.
Back in August, Edwards shocked the world and knocked out Usman with less than a minute to go in their five round affair at UFC 278, now the pair will square off for a third time on Edwards’ home turf to find out who truly deserves the 170-pound crown.
Kamaru Usman (20-2) Finds himself at an interesting point in his career, as the challenger for the title he claimed as his own since snatching it from Tyron Woodley back in March 2019. Following his title victory, he went on to be dominant in multiple defenses versus challengers such as Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns.
In his first meeting with Edwards, back in 2015, he managed a decisive victory over the current welterweight titleholder via unanimous decision, but in their second meeting back in August, things didn’t quite pan out in the same fashion. During the fifth round of what seemed to be a sure victory for Usman, Edwards managed to catch him with a perfectly timed head kick that sent the “Nigerian Nightmare” into a near comatose state.
The now 170-pound titleholder, Leon Edwards, (20-3) hopes to prove that his second encounter versus the former champion was not a one-off victory, and that he is truly among the best to ever grace the octagon in the welterweight division. Following his first meeting with Usman, Edwards went on a nine fight run in the UFC, achieving victories over notable competitors such as Donald Cerrone, Rafael dos Anjos, and Nate Diaz.
With the title on the line, Usman will look to continue the winning ways he was feeling comfortable with for most of their last fight, and seek revenge. Meanwhile, Edwards will come into this bout with a new level of confidence, knowing he has already once capitalized on a weakness he sees in his opponent’s skill set.
FOR THE TITLE AND THE TRILOGY 🏆@Leon_EdwardsMMA and @Usman84kg fight for the welterweight strap TOMORROW at #UFC286!!
[ 12:30pmET Prelims | 5pmET Main Card | Live on @ESPNPlus PPV: https://t.co/eeWr8UlILP ] pic.twitter.com/fgy9X1iyxQ
— UFC (@ufc) March 17, 2023
In the co-main event of the evening, crowd favorite Justin Gaethje (23-4) will come face to face with the striking expertise of Rafael Fiziev (12-1) in the lightweight division. Both of these fighters have proven themselves to be among the most exciting fighters to watch at 155-pounds, now we will see who is the most technically skilled, and who wants it more. While nothing has been established just yet, the winner of this bout could very well be next in line for a scrap versus the current lightweight titleholder, Islam Makhachev.
Guaranteed BANGER on deck!! 🔥@Justin_Gaethje meets @RafaelFiziev in tomorrow’s #UFC286 co-main!!
[ 12:30pmET Prelims | 5pmET Main Card | Live on @ESPNPlus PPV: https://t.co/eeWr8UlILP ] pic.twitter.com/anpeZZmQqR
— UFC (@ufc) March 17, 2023
The action of UFC 286 will get started at 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT on UFC Fight Pass & ESPN+ with six early preliminary bouts. The early prelim show will be headlined by England’s Lerone Murphy (11-0-1) versus Gabriel Santos (10-0) in the featherweight division.
Following, at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT, four additional preliminary matches with air on ESPN. Capping off these prelims, Jack Shore (16-1) will square off with Makwan Amirkhani (17-8) at 145-pounds.
Finally, at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT, the ESPN PPV main card will begin, and will conclude with the welterweight championship bout between current titleholder Leon Edwards, and former champion Kamaru Usman.