LONDON (AP) — Leon Edwards retained his welterweight title Saturday, defeating challenger Kamaru Usman at UFC 286 by majority determination.
Judges scored the trilogy struggle at London’s O2 Area 48-46, 48-46, 47-47 in favor of the Jamaican-born Briton, who landed the cleanest blows of their third struggle.
Edwards bought off to an encouraging begin, touchdown two onerous kicks to the physique within the first spherical.
The 31-year-old Edwards’ elevated velocity unsettled Usman, however the challenger dropped Edwards briefly within the second spherical earlier than the 2 fighters traded some heavy blows.
Usman once more grabbed Edwards to the bottom early within the third and the latter was stripped of some extent for holding on to the fence.
An identical sample performed out within the fourth, which was simply as shut, with Edwards seeking to hold his distance whereas Usman tried to shut.
Edwards evaded two extra takedown makes an attempt within the remaining spherical and caught Usman with an uppercut, however took a blow to the physique as his title protection went to the restrict.
Edwards had ended Usman’s lengthy reign as champion with a fifth-round kick to the Nigerian’s head and neck in Salt Lake Metropolis in August at UFC 278.
This was their third assembly, greater than seven years after the primary struggle Usman received.
“I believe I did sufficient to win the struggle,” Usman, 35, informed BT Sport after Saturday’s loss. “I’ve not completed”.
Usman known as Edwards “an important champion.”
American Justin Gaethje defeated Rafael Fiziev within the light-weight division by majority determination, 29-28, 29-28, 28-28.
