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Leon Edwards retained his UFC Welterweight Championship with a majority decision victory over Kamaru Usman in London.

The pair met for the third time following Edwards' stunning upset knockout victory in August, with the former champion going in as the favourite on Saturday.

A tense opening round saw Usman trying to push the champion back to the Octagon wall, with Edwards landing and a sharp low kick making for an even five-minute exchange.

READ MORE: UFC 286 plunged into darkness seconds before fight as lights go down at London's O2 Arena

Rocky seemed to rattle his opponent with a flurry in the second before Usman came back firing, pinning the fan favourite to the cage wall before holding him down on the canvas as the bout went into the third round level.

Edwards was deducted a point in the third for a fence grab having previously held the glove of his rival, with a kick to the groin following not long after.

A close fourth round was followed by a raucous reaction from the packed out arena – and despite some huge combinations from the Birmingham man, it was enough to claim a majority victory 48-46, 48-46, 47-47.

Which British fighter will be the third UFC champion after Michael Bisping and Leon Edwards? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.

Edwards went into the bout as a betting underdog having been headed towards a decision defeat before his stunning knockout victory in Utah back in August.

The pair clashed in their pre-fight press conference over their respective performances in the rematch, but it was Edwards who put it to bed in their third meeting.

The main event came after a huge card of action in the English capital, with several home favourites took home valuable victories.

In the opening bout of the early prelims, flyweight Veronica Hardy survived multiple submission attempts from Juliana Miller to earn a unanimous decision victory.

Next up was the Black Country Banger Jai Herbert, who stepped in against fellow lightweight Ludovit Klein, but was deducted a point in majority draw.

Scotland's Joanne Wood then took on former Molly McCann opponent Luana Carolina, winning by split decision before Jake Hadley set the card alight.

The flyweight prospect stopped Malcolm Gordon in the first round to send out a message in the division, with Christian Leroy Duncan then beating Dusko Todorovic by doctor stoppage after a leg injury.

Undefeated Lerone Murphy was next into the Octagon with also undefeated debutant Gabriel Santos, winning by a close split decision.

Muhammed Mokaev then opened up the preliminary card against Jafel Filho – refusing to tap to a tight knee bar before securing a third-round neck crank submission.

Highly-rated Sam Patterson was then brutally stopped by Yanal Ashmoz in the first-round of their lightweight contest before Scot Chris Duncan made his UFC debut against Omar Morales.

With Duncan taking a tight split decision, ranked bantamweight Jack Shore then kicked off his featherweight career with a rear-naked choke submission against Makwan Amirkhani.

The main card started with ranked light-heavyweights in former title challenger Marvin Vettori and the surging Roman Dolidze – with the Italian taking the decision.

The second fight on the main card saw Scottish-Australian flyweight Casey O'Neill put her undefeated record and losing it against veteran Jennifer Maia.

With Gunner Nelson then submitting Bryan Barberena in the first round, the co-main showcased two ranked lightweights in fan favourite Justin Gaethje and highly-rated Rafael Fiziev.

Two-time title challenger Gaethje would put a marker down and defend his #3 ranking in a back and forth contest that ended in a majority decision.

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