''UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3'' is an upcoming

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, inc ...

event produced by the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

that will take place on March 18, 2023, at The O₂ Arena in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, England.

Background

UFC Welterweight Championship Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions are fighters who have won UFC championships. Historical notes At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, mixed martial arts was not sanctioned in the United States, and did not include weight classe ...

trilogy bout between current champion Leon Edwards and former champion (also The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians welterweight winner)

Kamaru Usman Kamarudeen Usman (born May 11, 1987) is a Nigerian and American professional mixed martial artist, former freestyle wrestler and retired folkstyle wrestler. He currently competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Champions ...

is expected to headline the event. The pairing first met at UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2 in December 2015, where Usman won by unanimous decision. Their second meeting took place at

UFC 278 ''UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on August 20, 2022, at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Background The event marked the promotion' ...

in August 2022, where Edwards won the title by knockout in the fifth round. A lightweight bout between Michał Figlak and Chris Duncan was scheduled for the event. However, Figlak was forced to withdraw from the event citing injury and was replaced by Omar Morales. A featherweight bout between Nathaniel Wood and

Lerone Murphy Lerone Murphy (born July 22, 1991) is an English mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Murphy, who was born and raised in Old Trafford, went to St Edward's Primary Sch ...

was scheduled for the event. However, Wood was forced to withdraw from the event due to a leg injury. He was replaced by the LFA Featherweight Champion Gabriel Santos. A welterweight bout between Gunnar Nelson and Daniel Rodriguez was scheduled for this event. However, Rodriguez withdrew due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by

Bryan Barberena Bryan Paul Barberena (born May 3, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting in the Welterweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2009, he has also competed for King of the Cage. B ...

Fight card

References

{{2023 in mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship events 2023 in mixed martial arts 2023 sports events in London Scheduled mixed martial arts events 2023 in English sport Mixed martial arts in the United Kingdom Sport in London March 2023 sports events in the United Kingdom

Background

Fight card

See also

References