Leon Edwards shocked the world when he beat Kamaru Usman at UFC 278 for the UFC welterweight title. The Birmingham native defied the odds, doubters, and Usman’s offense to get the win. Now, he looks to prove he can hold onto the belt.
Edwards heads home when he defends the welterweight title against Usman at UFC 286 on March 18. The trilogy bout takes place at the O2 Arena in London.
A former BAMMA welterweight champion, Edwards joined the UFC in 2014. During his most recent run, including his win over Usman, Edwards is 12-1 with one no-contest. At UFC 278, he landed a last-second head kick that took down Usman.
With the fight in his backyard, Edwards is confident in his abilities. In his career, he is 12-1 in England. Edwards is ready for lucky number 13 at UFC 286 and believes it won’t be as one-sided a fight as last time.
MORE: Sign up to watch the UFC 286 PPV, exclusively on ESPN+
“This time around it will be a totally different fight,” Edwards told BT Sport via MMA Junkie. “I’ve never lost in the U.K., I’ve never lost at UFC London… pro and amateur. So, I’m taking that confidence into it. I’m taking the confidence of knowing I can knock him out into it. I’m taking the confidence of knowing I can take him down into it. I’m taking the confidence of knowing that once it hits the mat and I’m on top, I’m way better. Just all taking into it: my heritage, my story, it’s all going into it. I just can’t see how he comes over and beats me.”
The Ultimate Fighter 21 winner in 2015, Usman won nine in a row before beating Tyron Woodley for the UFC welterweight title in 2019. He successfully defended the title five times, his last bout a rematch against Colby Covington in 2021.
Looking to reclaim his crown, Usman manager Ali Abdelaziz stated to ESPN that Usman told UFC President Dana White he wanted to fight Edwards in London.
Here is all you need to know ahead of UFC 286, from time, channel, odds, card, and more.
Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman rivalry recap
In 2015, young guns Usman and Edwards faced off in the octagon. Usman won via unanimous decision after landing six takedowns. It was Usman's UFC debut after winning The Ultimate Fighter.
In the rematch at UFC 278 in August 2022, Usman landed five takedowns and was in command. However, in the final minute of the fight, down to his last strike, Edwards landed a kick to Usman's neck that produced a dramatic knockout win.
When is UFC 286: Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman 3?
- Date: Saturday, March 18 | Sunday, March 19
- Early FIGHT PASS Prelims: 1 p.m. ET | 5 p.m. GMT | 4 a.m. AEDT
- Prelims: 3 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. GMT | 6 a.m. AEDT
- Main card: 5 p.m. ET | 9 p.m. GMT | 8 a.m. AEDT
- Main event: 8 p.m. ET | 12 a.m. GMT | 11 a.m. AEDT (approx.)
UFC 286 takes place on Match 18. The FIGHT PASS prelims will begin at around 1 p.m. ET. The prelims will go live at 3 p.m. ET and the main card starts at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV. Edwards and Usman should make their way to the octagon around 8 p.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
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How to watch UFC 286: Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman 3
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States | Sat. March 18 | ESPN+, ESPN PPV |
| Canada | Sat. March 18 | BELL, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus, Eastlink, UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass |
| United Kingdom | Sat. March 18 | BT Sport |
| Australia | Sun. March 19 | Main Event, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV, UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass |
The main card for UFC 286 is available in the U.S. and Mexico on the ESPN+ subscription streaming service for a pay-per-view cost. Earlier fights are viewable live on ESPN+.
In Canada, the main card pay-per-view is available on BELL, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus, Eastlink, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.
In the United Kingdom, the main card will be available on BT Sport, with the prelims on UFC Fight Pass.
In Australia, the main card will be on Main Event, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.
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Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman 3 price: How much does UFC 286 cost?
- $79.99 (current ESPN+ subscribers)
- $124.98 (new subscribers)
In the U.S., the UFC 286 main card is available via pay-per-view on ESPN+, which also requires a subscription. The PPV price for UFC 286 is $79.99 for current subscribers. New subscribers can pay a bundle price of $124.98 for the UFC 286 pay-per-view and an ESPN+ annual subscription, which offers savings of more than 30 percent.
BT Sport Box Office will charge £19.99 to access live coverage of the card. The buying window opens on March 10.
MORE: Sign up to watch the UFC 286 PPV, exclusively on ESPN+
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $9.99/month |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $99.99/year |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $13.99/month |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $19.99/month |
| UFC PPV Standalone | $74.99 each |
| UFC PPV Package (UFC PPV & ESPN+ Annual) | $99.98, then $69.99/year |
| UFC PPV & The Disney Bundle | $88.98, then $13.99/month |
Click here to learn about the different pricing and bundling options with the ESPN+ platform.
Where is UFC 286?
Edwards vs. Usman 3 takes place inside the O2 Arena in London. The arena can hold up to 20,000 people.
Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman 3 odds for UFC 286
Per Bet MGM, Kamaru Usman is the -250 favorite, while Leon Edwards is the +190 underdog.
In Canada, per Sports Interaction, Kamaru Usman is the -250 favorite, while Leon Edwards is the +185 underdog.
MORE: How to bet on combat sports
Leon Edwards record, bio
- Nationality: British
- Born: Aug. 25, 1991
- Height: 6-0
- Reach: 74 inches
- Total fights: 23
- Record: 20-3 with one no-contest, seven wins via knockout
Kamaru Usman record, bio
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Born: May 11, 1987
- Height: 6-0
- Reach: 76 inches
- Total fights: 22
- Record: 20-2 with nine wins via knockout
UFC 286 fight card
Main card
- Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman 3 for the UFC welterweight title
- Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev; Lightweights
- Gunnar Nelson vs. Bryan Barberena; Welterweights
- Jennifer Maia vs. Casey O'Neill; Flyweights
- Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze; Middleweights
Prelims
- Jack Shore vs. Makwan Amirkhani, Featherweights
- Sam Patterson vs. Yanal Ashmoz; Lightweights
- Chris Duncan vs. Omar Morales; Lightweights
- Muhammad Mokaev vs. Jafel Filho; Flyweights
FIGHT PASS Prelims
- Lerone Murphy vs. Gabriel Santos; Featherweights
- Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Dusko Todorovic; Middleweights
- Malcolm Gordon vs. Jake Hadley; Flyweights
- Joanne Wood vs. Luana Carolina; Flyweights
- Jai Herbert vs. Ludovit Klein; Lightweights
- Juliana Miller vs. Veronica Hardy; Flyweights
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