UFC 286: Edward vs. Usman III Preview – MMA

The much-awaited rematch between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title is finally upon us. The event will take place this weekend at the O2 Arena in London and is expected to be a packed-out affair.

Edwards clinched the title in August last year with a stunning head-kick KO that ended Usman’s unbeaten run in the UFC. As the second British champion in the company’s history, Edwards has promised to repeat his success from last summer.

Usma is seeking redemption after his first-ever defeat in the UFC. He has previously claimed to have been taking Edwards’ ‘soul’ in their last encounter before the brutal knockout. He will be looking to prove his dominance inside the octagon when he faces Edwards again.

Despite producing one of the most memorable knockouts in UFC history in their last bout, Edwards believes he can perform better this time around. The British fighter faced immense pressure throughout the five-round battle last year but has revealed that he suffered an injury before the fight. He claims that he can now train properly and without injuries leading up to the fight, which will make a significant difference.

Edwards’ impressive striking ability has been key to his 11-fight win-streak, which is the third-longest among active streaks. He also landed the first-ever takedown on Usman during their previous encounter, which could be a route he chooses to take again.

In his case, Usman had control for the majority of the August 2021 bout, landing five takedowns compared to Edwards’ one. He also landed over double the amount of strikes on his welterweight counterpart. If he puts in a similar performance and avoids being knocked out, Usman stands a good chance of winning the rematch.

As we look forward to this weekend’s event, fans can expect to see two of the most talented fighters in the UFC battle it out for the welterweight title. The stakes are high, and both fighters have a point to prove.

Leon Osamor