“Look at me now,” Leon Edwards shouted moments after capturing the men’s UFC Welterweight Championship.
In a year full of upsets across multiple promotions in mixed martial arts, Edwards’ stunning fifth-round finish against then-UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman reigned supreme. Instead of working their way back toward a rematch, Usman and Edwards elected to participate in an immediate rematch at the O2 Arena in Edwards’ adopted hometown of London.
Only months removed from the rematch, Usman was certain that he had the skill and confidence to regain his welterweight title.
“I think even Leon forgot what was happening in our fight before that leg kick,” Usman said leading up to the rematch.
“So I’ll go out there and remind him who he is, and that’s the second-best guy in the division. It’s time to show the world why I am the best.”
The newly crowned champion is equally as confident. In his words, he’s known he was the best in the world for a “long time.”
“It’s been nonstop busy, but this is what I’ve worked for an [awfully] long time,” he said.
“I am excited to carry on this journey to be one of the best of all time.”
On fight night, both fighters delivered five rounds of tense action that was filled with a number of stunning body kicks, hard-hitting shots and occasional referee interruptions. In the end, Edwards retained his title with a majority decision victory. Two judges scored the match 48-46 in his favor while one judge scored it even at 47-47.
UNDISPUTED!!?@LeonEdwardsMMA defends his welterweight title in great fashion! He beats Kamaru Usman via majority decision at #UFC286 pic.twitter.com/HDIjcI583c
— UFC (@ufc) March 19, 2023
