Britain’s Leon Edwards retained his welterweight title in entrance of his dwelling followers as he beat Kamaru Usman by majority resolution at UFC 286 in London.
Edwards, 31, was the extra harmful striker all through as he prevented nearly all of Usman’s takedown makes an attempt.
The victory over Usman, 35, sees Edwards make his first title defence since beating the Nigerian in August.
The bout on the O2 Enviornment was billed as the most important British MMA battle in historical past.
In surprising Usman to avenge a 2015 defeat and win the title in August, Edwards grew to become simply the second British UFC champion and first since Michael Bisping in 2016.
Edwards’ achievement prompted the UFC to host a trilogy bout and its first numbered present in Britain since 2016, when Bisping defended his middleweight title towards Dan Henderson in Manchester.
Following victory, Jamaican-born Edwards opened the door to a battle with former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington, who was sat at cage-side, but in addition mentioned he would possibly journey to Miami in April to see Jorge Masvidal’s battle with Gilbert Burns.
“That man [Covington] has sat out for 2 years. I would take a bit journey to Miami and see what is going on on there,” mentioned Edwards.
“I do know it was a detailed battle so I knew I needed to land the cleaner photographs. He did not land many clear on me. He simply had a number of strain. Because of Kamaru for being an important competitor.”
Edwards cements finest welterweight standing
Edwards’ win over Usman in August ended his dominance of the division, the then pound-for-pound primary having been on a 14-fight UFC win streak that yielded a title win in 2019 adopted by 5 profitable defences.
The primary sighting of Edwards on the evening introduced an enormous cheer as the large display screen confirmed the champion arriving on the enviornment to the theme of Eye of the Tiger – a track synonymous with the boxing film Rocky, which impressed Edwards’ nickname.
Anticipation grew all through the night as celebrities filtered into the sold-out enviornment for the historic occasion, together with snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan and actors Jared Leto, Anya Taylor-Pleasure and Tom Holland.
Former champion Usman made his cage-walk first and was booed loudly from the pro-Edwards crowd as he stepped contained in the octagon.
Edwards, in black and gold shorts to suggest a UFC champion, was in distinction greeted with passionate assist as he high-fived followers whereas shouting “let’s go”.
The early phases noticed Usman pushing ahead, utilizing his jab and feinting takedowns. Edwards then began to make use of his kicks successfully because the spherical wore on, touchdown a heavy physique kick in direction of the tip.
The subsequent 10 minutes noticed Usman persevering with to push ahead in search of takedowns, with Edwards trying to evade and kick from distance.
The third spherical introduced a nervous second for Edwards as he was deducted some extent by referee Herb Dean for holding on to the cage to stop a takedown by Usman, which was greeted with disdain by the group.
With the battle shut going into the fourth spherical, followers tried to encourage Edwards by chanting “Rocky” because the Birmingham fighter continued to chip away with leg and physique kicks whereas working to nullify Usman’s wrestling.
Usman continued to push ahead all through, however he discovered restricted success together with his grappling – Edwards capable of battle again to his toes on the cage on quite a few events.
The pair shared a second of respect as they touched gloves in the beginning of the fifth – the thirteenth spherical that they had shared collectively – and whereas Usman continued in in search of takedowns towards visibly tiring Edwards, the Briton was capable of battle on to a majority resolution win.
‘London, you could have your self an important champion’
In victory, Edwards prolonged his unbeaten run within the UFC to 12 fights, his final defeat coming towards Usman in 2015.
“He did not get any takedowns, I used to be touchdown cleaner photographs, I took out his legs,” mentioned Edwards.
“I could not get the kick round his head. He had the proper defence. I used to be making an attempt to set it up with kicks to the physique and legs.”
Because the bell rang on the finish of the battle Usman raised his palms, believing he had gained, and he maintained this place within the post-fight interview whereas paying tribute to Edwards.
“I believe I did sufficient to win the battle however I knew it was shut,” he mentioned.
“He had an important gameplan. I at all times mentioned from the beginning we would meet once more and I am not achieved. We’ll see one another once more.
“I at all times gave him props for what he is achieved. He is a brother like myself and nice respect. London you’ve got received your self an important champion.”
Within the co-main occasion, American Justin Gaethje earned a majority resolution win over fellow light-weight Rafael Fiziev in an entertaining bout.
With each fighters famend for his or her harmful placing, the bout was billed as a fight-of-the-night contender and it didn’t disappoint.
Following a detailed two rounds, Gaethje, 34, started to search out common openings within the last 5 minutes as a sequence of jabs and uppercuts dealt seen harm to Azerbaijani Fiziev’s face.
Within the post-fight interview, Gaethje urged a last run on the light-weight title might lie in wait, presently held by Islam Makhachev, earlier than hinting at retirement.
