Leon Edwards will defend his welterweight title against Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC 286 this weekend, at the first UFC pay-per-view event in Britain since 2016.
March and July 2022 saw hugely successful Fight Nights take place at London’s O2 Arena, before British MMA had another growth spurt when Edwards knocked out Usman in dramatic fashion in August to become the nation’s second ever UFC champion.
Now Edwards makes his first defence of the title, taking on Usman – who outpointed him in 2015 – for a third time. The pair will headline at the O2 Arena as the Jamaican-born champion looks to build upon his stunning, late finish of his old rival.
In the co-main event, former lightweight title challenger Justin Gaethje takes on rising contender Rafael Fiziev.
Here’s all you need to know.
When is it?
UFC 286 takes place at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday 18 March.
The early prelims will begin at 5pm GMT (9am PT, 11am CT, 12pm ET), with the prelims following at 7pm GMT (11am PT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET). The main card is then scheduled to start at 9pm (1pm PT, 3pm CT, 4pm ET).
How can I watch it?
The card will air live on BT Sport Box Office in the UK – at a cost of £19.95 – with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights.
In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass.
Odds
Edwards – 7/4
Usman – 4/9
Full card (subject to change)
Main card
Leon Edwards (C) vs Kamaru Usman 3 (welterweight title)
Justin Gaethje vs Rafael Fiziev (lightweight)
Gunnar Nelson vs Bryan Barberena (welterweight)
Jennifer Maia vs Casey O’Neill (women’s flyweight)
Marvin Vettori vs Roman Dolidze (middleweight)
Prelims
Jack Shore vs Makwan Amirkhani (featherweight)
Chris Duncan vs Omar Morales (lightweight)
Sam Patterson vs Yanal Ashmoz (lightweight)
Muhammad Mokaev vs Jafel Filho (flyweight)
Early prelims
Lerone Murphy vs Gabriel Santos (featherweight)
Christian Leroy Duncan vs Dusko Todorovic (middleweight)
Jake Hadley vs Malcolm Gordon (flyweight)
Joanne Wood vs Luana Carolina (women’s flyweight)
Jai Herbert vs Ludovit Klein (lightweight)
Juliana Miller vs Veronica Hardy (women’s flyweight)
