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UFC 286 full results: Leon Edwards retains title vs. Kamaru Usman; Justin Gaethje outpoints Rafael Fiziev

Yahoo Sports Staff
·3-min read
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 18: (L-R) Leon Edwards of Jamaica punches Kamaru Usman of Nigeria in a lightweight fight during the UFC 286 event at The O2 Arena on March 18, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Leon Edwards punches Kamaru Usman in their lightweight title bout during UFC 286 at The O2 Arena on March 18, 2023 in London. (Photo by Jeff Bottari via Getty Images) (Jeff Bottari via Getty Images)

Much of the speculation ahead of the main event of UFC 286 between welterweight champion Leon Edwards and former champion Kamaru Usman on Saturday at the O2 Arena in London centered around Usman's mental state.

He was knocked out by a perfectly set up and executed head kick by Edwards at UFC 278 on Aug. 20 in Salt Lake City. That loss ended Usman's 19-fight winning streak that extended over nine years, and not only cost him the welterweight championship but recognition as the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world.

So Usman entered the trilogy fight looking to regain the welterweight title and shake off the crushing loss, but couldn't get the job done in a close fight which Edwards won by majority decision. Two judges scored the bout 48-46 with the third scoring it a draw 47-47 after Edwards was deducted a point for a fence grab in the third round. Yahoo Sports scored it 48-46 for Edwards.

Justin Gaethje, who referred to himself this week as the most exciting fighter in UFC history, and Rafael Fiziev, one of the sport's elite strikers, fought an incredible slugfest in the co-main event with Gaethje earning the majority decision.

UFC 286 live tracker

UFC 286 main card results, highlights

  • Women's flyweight: Jennifer Maia def. Casey O'Neill by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

  • Middleweight: Marvin Vettori def. Roman Dolidze by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

UFC 286 prelims results, highlights

  • Featherweight: Jack Shore def. Makwan Amirkhani by submission (rear naked choke) at 4:27 of R2:

  • Lightweight: Chris Duncan def. Omar Morales by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

  • Lightweight: Yanal Ashmoz def. Sam Patterson by KO (punches) at 1:15 of R1:

UFC 286 early prelims results, highlights

  • Featherweight: Lerone Murphy def. Gabriel Santos by split decision (29,-28, 28-29, 29-28)

  • Middleweight: Christian Leroy Duncan def. Dusko Todorovic by TKO (injury) at 2:52 of R1

  • Flyweight: Jake Hadley def. Malcolm Gordon by TKO (body shot) at 1:01 of R1:

  • Women's flyweight: Joanne Wood def. Luana Carolina by split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)

  • Lightweight: Jai Herbert vs. Ludovit Klein ends in majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)

  • Women's flyweight: Veronica Hardy def. Juliana Miller by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)