LONDON — Leon Edwards retained his welterweight title Saturday, beating challenger Kamaru Usman at UFC 286 by majority resolution.
Judges scored the trilogy combat on the O2 Enviornment in London 48-46, 48-46, 47-47 in favor of the Jamaican-born Brit, who landed the cleaner blows as their third combat went the gap.
Edwards made an encouraging begin, connecting with two heavy physique kicks within the opening spherical.
The 31-year-old Edwards’ higher pace unsettled Usman, however the challenger took Edwards down briefly in spherical two earlier than each fighters traded some heavy blows.
Usman grappled Edwards to the ground once more early within the third and the latter was docked a degree for grabbing the fence.
The same sample unfolded within the fourth, which was simply as tight, with Edwards trying to maintain his distance as Usman tried to get in shut.
Edwards evaded two extra takedown makes an attempt within the ultimate spherical and caught Usman with an uppercut, however took successful to the physique as his title protection went all the way down to the wire.
Edwards had ended Usman’s lengthy reign as champion with a kick to the Nigerian’s head and neck within the fifth spherical in Salt Lake Metropolis in August in UFC 278.
This was their third assembly, greater than seven years after the primary combat received by Usman.
“I believe I did sufficient to win the combat,” the 35-year-old Usman advised BT Sport after Saturday’s defeat. “I’m not finished.”
Usman known as Edwards “an amazing champion.”
American Justin Gaethje beat Rafael Fiziev within the light-weight class by majority resolution, 29-28, 29-28, 28-28.