Leon Edwards aims to defend his welterweight title in a highly-anticipated trilogy bout against Kamaru Usman at the top of a stacked London card for UFC 286.
The Jamaican-born Birmingham local welcomes the 'Nigerian Nightmare' to London having taken his title with a fifth-round head kick that sent shockwaves through global MMA.
That upset defeat laid the groundwork for a PPV return to the UK for the first time since Michael Bisping defended his middleweight belt in Manchester back in 2016.
Daily Star Sport has all you need to know for Saturday's blockbuster night of fights at London's O2 Arena, including featured bouts for Justin Gaethje and Marvin Vettori, with all fights in order from first to last.
INTERVIEW: Leon Edwards insists 'we're not going to see a better Kamaru Usman' in trilogy
EARLY PRELIMS
Flyweight: Juliana Miller vs. Veronica Macedo
Lightweight: Jai Herbert vs. Ludovit Klein
Flyweight: Joanne Wood vs. Luana Carolina
Flyweight: Malcolm Gordon vs. Jake Hadley
Middleweight: Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Dusko Todorovic
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy vs. Gabriel Santos
With a flyweight bout between Juliana Miller (3-1) and Veronica Hardy (6-4-1) kicking things off, fan favourite lightweight Jai Herbert (12-4) is looking to build on his victory over Kyle Nelson, which took place on the same night Ludovit Klein (19-4) saw off Mason Jones.
Scottish flyweight Joanne Wood (15-8) is in need of a victory against former Molly McCann opponent Luana Carolina (8-3), with Birmingham flyweight Jake Hadley (9-1), as announced by Daily Star Sport, looking to set the tone for Edwards against Malcolm Gordon (14-6).
With middleweight Londoner Christian Leroy Duncan (7-0) making his UFC debut against Dusko Todorovic (12-3), Manchester's undefeated featherweight Lerone Murphy (11-0-1) rounds off the early prelims against newcomer Gabriel Santos (10-0) following Nathaniel Wood's injury.
Who will leave London as the UFC Welterweight Champion? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
PRELIMS
Flyweight: Muhammad Mokaev vs. Jafel Filho
Lightweight: Sam Patterson vs. Yanal Ashmoz
Lightweight: Chris Duncan vs. Omar Morales
Featherweight: Jack Shore vs. Makwan Amirkhani
Another flyweight bout between the undefeated Muhammad Mokaev (9-0) and experienced Jafel Filho (14-2) opens the prelims, with exciting newcomer Sam Patterson (10-1-1) taking on Yanal Ashmoz (6-0) at lightweight.
Scotland's Contender Series victor Chris Duncan (9-1) makes his full UFC debut against lightweight veteran Omar Morales (11-3), with Wales' Jack Shore (16-1) looking to get back to winning ways at a higher weight against Makwan Amirkhani (17-8) at featherweight.
Free £2 shop bet with William Hill every day of the Cheltenham Festival – plus all the fantastic daily coverage you need
Pick up your Daily Star every day of the festival for racing specials, day by day updates and free bet EVERY DAY.
Celebrate the biggest racing week of the year- the Cheltenham Festival. One of the most prestigious National Hunt Meetings of the calendar is not to be missed…and we’ve got a bumper week of amazing content and great reader offers. Find out more HERE.
MAIN CARD
Middleweight: Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze
Flyweight: Jennifer Maia vs. Casey O'Neill
Welterweight: Gunnar Nelson vs. Bryan Barberena
Lightweight: Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev
Welterweight: Leon Edwards (c) vs. Kamaru Usman
Former middleweight title challenger Marvin Vettori #4 (18-6-1) opens up the main card against Roman Dolidze #8 (12-1), with the Georgian looking to move up the rankings.
Former flyweight title challenger Jennifer Maia #8 (20-9-1) takes on Scottish-born Australian Casey O'Neill #12 (9-0), in a bid to defend her ranking.
Gunnar Nelson (18-5-1) takes on Bryan Barberena (18-9) in a welterweight bout that promises fireworks, with the co-main event the favourite for fight of the night.
Former interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje (23-4) looks to defend his #3 ranking against the surging Rafael Fiziev (12-1) who is ranked #6 after beating Rafael dos Anjos.
The main event brings Leon Edwards C (20-3) and Kamaru Usman #1 (20-2) together for a third time following Usman's 2015 decision victory and Edwards' brutal KO victory in August.
The London plans were announced by Dana White moments after Usman lost his title on what was set to be a sixth consecutive defence, which cost him his P4P king status.
Speaking to Daily Star Sport back in October, Edwards said: "It was one of the worst performances of my career and that was the best Usman we're going to get.
"That's what he does in fights that's the best we will see – and it was the worst of me. I think it will be a totally different fight – with the same result."
TV channel and stream
UK viewers can watch UFC 286 on BT Sport Box Office for £19.95.
With the early preliminary card set to begin on UFC FIGHT PASS from 5pm GMT, the preliminary card is set to get underway at 7pm on BT Sport before the 9pm main card.
The main event between welterweight rivals Edwards vs Usman is expected to begin around 10:30pm, depending on the results of the proceeding fights.
READ NEXT:
Leon Edwards says MMA saved him from being 'in prison or dead'
Dana White hails 'hardcore' UFC fans in the UK before blockbuster UFC 286
'Doctors said I couldn't fight after intestine removal – but I'm back after eight years'
Source: Read Full Article