Leon Edwards defied the odds once again Saturday when he overcame a crucial point deduction to defeat Kamaru Usman for the second time in three head-to-head matchups.
In the UFC 286 main event, Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) defeated Usman (20-3 MMA, 15-2 UFC) via majority decision (48-46, 48-46, 47-47) to retain the promotion’s welterweight title at The O2 in London.
Usman was patient in Round 1 as he visibly respected Edwards’ striking. With Usman’s volume low, Edwards capitalized and took control of the fight early. In Round 2, Edwards landed a big knee, perhaps his biggest strike of the fight, around the same time the crowd chanted his signature line, “Headshot, dead.”
