The main event of UFC 286 at The O2 in London delivered.
Leon Edwards entered the octagon as the UFC welterweight champion for the first time in his career, and walked out with his first title defense after beating Kamaru Usman for the second straight time.
Edwards is now up 2-1 in the series with Usman, much to the delight of the hometown crowd in attendance.
Check out the top Twitter reactions to Edwards’s title victory over Usman at UFC 286 below.
Kamaru Usman makes the walk
Time to talk in that Octagon 🗣️@Usman84kg | #UFC286 pic.twitter.com/lozIW83Vp9
— UFC (@ufc) March 18, 2023
Here comes the champ, Leon Edwards
COME ON LEON! 😤@Leon_EdwardsMMA | #UFC286 pic.twitter.com/DI36MmerWL
— UFC (@ufc) March 18, 2023
Terrance McKinney
Kelvin Gastelum
I feel like @USMAN84kg main goal tonight: is to make the O2 arena go silent 🤫 #UFC286
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) March 18, 2023
Simon Samano
Jamaican from England vs. Nigerian from America: The Trilogy
LFG! #UFC286
— Simon Samano (@SJSamano) March 18, 2023
Aleksandar Rakic
Exited for the MAIN EVENT of the evening #UFC286
— Aleksandar Rakic (@rakic_ufc) March 18, 2023
ESPN MMA
IT'S TIME ⚡ #UFC286 pic.twitter.com/HIFqlDnPNC
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 18, 2023
Belal Muhammad
That co main event momentum got Trevor hype
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) March 18, 2023
UFC
THIS SHIT IS PERSONAL 🔥 #UFC286 pic.twitter.com/hPD7onEiIp
— UFC (@ufc) March 18, 2023
Nolan King
This London crowd just turned up like 10 notches for this main event and it was already pretty raucous. Goosebumps. #UFC286
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) March 18, 2023
Matthew Wells
Vicious kicks from Edwards in this opening round. #UFC286
— Matthew Wells (@MrMWells) March 18, 2023
Jamahal Hill
Leon is playing this perfectly!!! Make him find the range be the longer fighter!!!#UFC286
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) March 18, 2023
Randy Brown
Leon's looking sharp early. #UFC286
— Randy Brown (@TouchNgo_) March 18, 2023
Ryan McKinnell
Leon Edwards looks locked IN. This is a good start for the Brit.
Fully expect to Usman to adjust in round 2. #UFC286
— Ryan McKinnell (@RyanMcKinnell) March 18, 2023
Eliot Marshall
10-9 Edwards. Champ is up one. Very calculated #UFC286
— Eliot Marshall (@FireMarshall205) March 18, 2023
Damon Martin
10-9 Leon Edwards after R1.
Strong start from the champion.#UFC286
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) March 18, 2023
Dan Tom
Leon takes round one AGAIN (gotta say that last part loud for all the ppl saying that Usman dominated outside of a single kick last time) #UFC286
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) March 18, 2023
Rafael dos Anjos
Both guys held my glove the whole fight. #UFC286 @ufc
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) March 18, 2023
Mario Bautista
Caught him in 4k 😂 #UFC286
— Mario Bautista (@Bautista_mma) March 18, 2023
Danny Segura
Usman looks like he's got ZERO pop in those shots. Looks vastly different.
Let's see if this is strategy or something is up. #UFC286
— Danny Segura (@dannyseguratv) March 18, 2023
Tom Taylor
"He does that again, Herb's going to take a point."
Yes, because MMA refs have a clear one-warning policy when it comes to fouls.
— Tom Taylor (@TomTayMMA) March 18, 2023
Alan Jouban
Edwards is setting up the head shot from that left liver kick again #UFC286
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) March 18, 2023
Olivier Aubin-Mercier
After one Round, I can confidently say that "almost sea level" Leon is invincible
— NOT Olivier Aubin-Mercier (@oliaubin) March 18, 2023
Mike Jackson
Edwards' footwork is butter #UFC286
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) March 18, 2023
Tommy Toe Hold
Oh, so you’re a wrestler now?
— Tommy Toe Hold (@TommyToeHold) March 18, 2023
Aaron Bronsteter
20-18 Edwards after R2
Very close round. Usman landed more strikes overall, but I feel Leon landed the more visibly impactful ones.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) March 18, 2023
Sean Sheehan
19-19. Very close round. Thought Usman just hurt him more. #UFC286
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) March 18, 2023
Danny Segura
20-18, Edwards. #UFC286
— Danny Segura (@dannyseguratv) March 18, 2023
Yves Edwards
Is it 19-19 or 20-18 Edwards after 1? 🤔 #UFC286
— The Thugjitsu Master (@thugjitsumaster) March 18, 2023
Gilbert Burns
👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀 #ufc286
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) March 18, 2023
Farah Hannoun
Colby Covington has been standing up throughout the entire Edwards vs. Usman fight #UFC286 pic.twitter.com/WYrPvttxUN
— Farah Hannoun (@Farah_Hannoun) March 18, 2023
Brett Okamoto
Right call to take a point. Blatant fence grab and in a close championship fight that could mean the world. Had to take one.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) March 18, 2023
Nolan King
Herb Dean takes a point away from Leon Edwards for a fence grab. That's huge, but I can't disagree. #UFC286
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) March 18, 2023
Brian Kelleher
Usman should get the position back too. I don’t understand that
— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) March 18, 2023
Belal Muhammad
Dirty fighter
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) March 18, 2023
Al Iaquinta
SLAP but with nut shots
— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) March 18, 2023
Brandon Royval
Give the round to Leon… so it could be even going into the championship rounds #UFC286
— Brandon (@brandonroyval) March 18, 2023
Alan Jouban
Leon fouling and kind of disputing it is a lack of focus. You can see the momentum shifting away. #UFC286
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) March 18, 2023
Malki Kawa
The announcers are talking so much about the head kick that if it doesn’t happen I’m gonna be so upset . #UFC286
— malki kawa (@malkikawa) March 18, 2023
Chisanga Malata
I give that fourth to Leon. A close, close fight #UFC286
— Chisanga Malata (@Chisanga_Malata) March 18, 2023
Khaos Williams
Close fight but @USMAN84kg getting that belt back tonight😮💨💪💯 #UFC286
— Khaos williams (@khaosOXwilliams) March 18, 2023
Aljamain Sterling
Idk how to score this at all. #UFC286
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) March 18, 2023
UFC
🚨 ENTERING CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS 🚨 #UFC286 pic.twitter.com/fibeKBH8gL
— UFC (@ufc) March 18, 2023
Jalin Turner
Let’s see who wants it more 😤💪🏾 #UFC286
— Jalin Turner (@JalinTurner) March 18, 2023
Sam Alvey
I’ve got Usman up by a lot? You guys
— Sam Alvey (@smilensam) March 18, 2023
Danny Roberts
This main event! 😮 London Com’on!! 🔥 ufc doing the uk proud tonight!! #UFC286
— Danny Roberts #HC (@DanHotChocolate) March 19, 2023
Johnny Munoz
Rocky takes it #UFC286
— Johnny Muñoz (@KidKvenbo) March 19, 2023
Ricky Simon
I think Usman takes it
— Ricky Simón (@RickySimonUFC) March 19, 2023
Leon Edwards def. Kamaru Usman via majority decision
#UFC286 results: Leon Edwards (@Leon_EdwardsMMA) def. Kamaru Usman via majority decision (48-46, 48-46, 47-47)– to defend welterweight title
Full story: https://t.co/UnWRm4bANu pic.twitter.com/DrFuzoTjLh
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) March 19, 2023
Chris Weidman
Wow ! With the point ! These are one of these fights I gotta watch back again tomorrow. I thought Usman won. #UFC286
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) March 19, 2023
Jasmine Jasudavicius
And Still! What a fight!
— Jasmine Jasudavicius (@JasJasudavicius) March 19, 2023
Islam Makhachev
I want Leon next, October in Abu Dhabi 👊🏼
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) March 19, 2023
Colby Covington
See you in July @Leon_edwardsmma
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) March 19, 2023
Belal Muhammad
I was ready for that pic.twitter.com/kWqgmRb0dM
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) March 19, 2023
Lol they’re trying so hard to give colby the coward the shot
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) March 19, 2023
