Usman, Edwards Trilogy Set For March 18

On Jan 16, 2023

Leon Edwards will defend his welterweight title against Kamaru Usman at UFC 286 in the O2 Arena in London on March 18.

UFC President Dana White announced this on Sunday stating that Edwards defeated Usman for the belt at UFC 278 last August after delivering a fifth-round head kick for a knockout, setting up their upcoming trilogy fight.

The two first faced off in December 2015 where Usman won via unanimous decision.

The UFC 286 co-main event will feature Justin Gaethje fighting Rafael Fiziev in a lightweight fight.

This fight will be a homecoming for the 31-year-old Edwards, who moved to England at the age of nine and fights out of Birmingham. For his professional career, he sports a 20-3 record with one no-contest. He has seven knockouts and three submission victories. Edwards is unbeaten in 11 straight fights dating back to that loss to Usman eight years ago.

The 35-year-old came into the UFC by winning The Ultimate Fighter 21 in 2015.

ESPN has Usman ranked No. 3 and Edwards ranked No. 7 on its pound-for-pound MMA list.

MTO/Punch

UFC 286