Leon Edwards vs Kamaru Usman – UFC 286: how to watch and when is it

Leon Edwards is set to defend his welterweight title for the first time when he faces Kamaru Usman in a blockbuster trilogy showdown TONIGHT… but what time does UFC 286 start? How can you watch it? And who else is fighting?

  • Leon Edwards will defend his welterweight title for the first time at UFC 286  
  • The Brit knocked out Kamaru Usman in the fifth round when they met at UFC 278
  • ‘Rocky’ will be aiming to go 2-1 up after Usman won the first meeting in 2015

Leon Edwards will defend his welterweight title for the first time in an epic trilogy showdown against rival Kamaru Usman.

‘Rocky’ defeated the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ back in last August via a fifth-round KO to win the belt at UFC 278. 

Before the defeat to Edwards, Usman was unbeaten in 19 fights. The Nigerian will now be out for revenge and has already beaten the Brit. The former welterweight champion won the first meeting via decision back in 2015.

The co-main event sees a mouthwatering lightweight clash between Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev. A middleweight banger between Marvin Vettori and Roman Dolidze will kick off the main card.

Sportsmail breaks down everything you need to know, including how you can watch in the UK, who’s fighting and what time UFC 286 starts.

Leon Edwards knocked Kamaru Usman out in the fifth round in their last meeting at UFC 278

‘Rocky’ Edwards will be looking to successfully defend the title for the first time on home soil

When is UFC 286? 

UFC 286 will take place on Saturday, with the early prelims set to get underway at 5pm in the United Kingdom.

The prelims are scheduled to get underway at 7pm, while the main card is set to start at 9pm.

This weekend’s main event between Edwards and Usman is likely to start at around 11pm.

The trilogy showdown between Edwards and Usman will take place at the O2 Arena in London.

How to watch UFC 286 

UFC 286 will be shown live on BT Sport Box Office in the UK at a cost of £19.95.

Coverage for this weekend’s PPV showdown will start at 7pm.

BT Sport’s YouTube channel will also be broadcasting a live stream of the UFC 286 prelims between 7pm and 9pm. 

Sportsmail will also be covering the event live, so you can keep up-to-date with us.

This weekend’s blockbuster PPV showdown will take place at the O2 Arena in London

 Edwards vs Usman: The key stats

Leon Edwards 

Age: 31

Height: 6ft 2in

Reach: 74”

Stance: Southpaw

Record: 20-3-1

Kamaru Usman 

Age: 35

Height: 6ft

Reach: 76”

Stance: Switch

Record: 20-2

Fight card in full

Main Card 

  • Leon Edwards vs Kamaru Usman – for UFC Welterweight Championship
  • Justin Gaethje vs Rafael Fiziev
  • Gunnar Nelson vs Bryan Barberena
  • Jennifer Maia vs Casey O’Neill
  • Marvin Vettori vs Roman Dolidze

 Preliminary Card

  • Jack Shore vs Makwan Amirkhani
  • Chris Duncan vs Omar Morales
  • Sam Patterson vs Yanal Ashmoz
  • Muhammad Mokaev vs Jafel Filho

Early Preliminary Card   

  • Lerone Murphy vs Gabriel Santos
  • Christian Leroy Duncan vs Dusko Todorovic
  • Malcolm Gordon vs Jake Hadley
  • Joanne Wood vs Luana Carolina
  • Jai Herbert vs Ludovit Klein
  • Julianna Miller vs Veronica Macedo

What’s been said?

Heading into the trilogy fight with Usman, Edwards believes that he is the better fighter. ‘Rocky’ also revealed that he will ‘thrive’ off of the UK fans on Saturday night.

‘I’ve never lost in the UK amateur or pro, I thrive off the energy of the fans and Saturday night will be no different’, Edwards said at the pre-fight press conference.

‘I’m honoured to be here, I’ve worked hard to get here and on Saturday night I’ll make you all proud. I’ll put my shin across his head!

‘As the king, I welcome more challengers, so whoever comes next. I’m going out to show off.

‘This is my time, he’s a good fighter but I truly believe I’m better and I can’t see him coming to the UK and taking the belt back with him.

‘It will mean the world, I was meant to headline with Woodley, now here we are, “and still”.

Leon Edwards believes that he is the better fighter and will thrive off the UK fans

Kamaru Usman revealed that his defeat to Edwards in the rematch was a ‘learning experience’

‘Everyone wrote me off but that built character. We’re both pros, he’s been here a long time, when we start the fight it will be on.’

As for Usman, the former champion said that his defeat to Edwards in the rematch was a ‘learning experience’.

‘It was a learning experience, we’ll get back on the horse and do what it required. He’s an ordinary person, I’m not, I’m extraordinary’, Usman said.

‘It has never been about me being driven, I always gave 100 per cent and it has never been about the work, I’ve always been that way.

‘I got to go back and just grind like I normally do.

‘There’s not many more things for me to do, the Colby one was special, Masvidal was special and this will be too. If Leon wants to open the door for me, the king will walk through.’

Odds 

Leon Edwards to win – 2/1

Kamaru Usman to win – 2/5

Draw – 50/1 

Odds via Paddy Power and correct at the time of publication.

Edwards (R) will be hoping that his striking will be the deciding factor in the trilogy showdown

Prediction 

It will be interesting to see if the pressure will get to Edwards as he is fighting on home soil.

‘Rocky’s’ striking is second to none. The Brit enjoyed a lot of success in the stand up battle in the rematch, with his inside leg kicks and straight left hands causing Usman a lot of problems.

As for Usman, the Nigerian may be optimistic heading into the trilogy fight. He was arguably 3-1 up before getting knocked out and enjoyed a lot of success throughout the fight.

Edwards struggled with Usman’s wrestling for the majority of the fight. If Usman can take Edwards down early on and control the fight, it is likely that he will reclaim his title.

Prediction – Leon Edwards via TKO/KO 

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