UFC: Edwards Beats Usman Again To Retain Welterweight Title

Leon Edwards defeated Nigeria’s Kamaru Usman by majority decision to retain his welterweight championship on Saturday at UFC 286 in London.

Two judges scored it 48-46 for Edwards, while the third judge had it at 47-47.

Edwards is unbeaten in 12 consecutive fights and has not lost since Usman defeated him via unanimous decision in their first fight in 2015.

And for Usman he won 15 consecutive fights in the UFC before losing his past two to Edwards.

It was the third meeting between Usman and Edwards, who was less than a minute from sure defeat in their last meeting when he pulled off a shocking head-kick knockout to finish Usman at UFC 278.

Edwards established himself in the first with hard kicks to the body and legs, but Usman got going in Round 2, taking Edwards to the mat and landing some hard shots on the ground.

Usman struck first in the third round, working a single leg before scoring a takedown in the first minute. Edwards managed to get to his feet and moved toward the cage, but referee Herb Dean penalized Edwards a point for grabbing the fence as Usman took his back.

He stepped up the pace after the point deduction, hurting Usman with several kicks to the leg and body in the final two minutes of the round.

Edwards continued to work the leg kicks as the fourth round opened, causing some swelling to develop on the inside of Usman’s leg. Usman scored a takedown late in the round, but Edwards limited the damage by quickly getting back to his feet.

With the fight seemingly up for grabs in the final round, the champion finally went to the head with his kicks and landed another big shot with his right hand.

Usman tried hard to get his opponent to the canvas and got it with 90 seconds to go. But Edwards, as he did throughout the fight, limited the damage by quickly escaping and getting back to his feet. Usman shot in again in the closing seconds of the fight, but the Brit shook him off again as the final buzzer sounded.