UFC 286 in London now has confirmed main event and co-main event bouts, with the UK's returning champion set to put his title on the line.
Leon Edwards stunned Kamaru Usman in the fifth round to knock out "The Nigerian Nightmare" and capture the undisputed UFC welterweight title at UFC 278 in August 202. Now he's set to make his first defense of the title on home soil on March 18 in London.
Edwards will face former champ Usman in a trilogy bout at The O2 Arena, with the 170-pound title on the line, and revenge in the air as Usman looks to avenge the devastating knockout he suffered at Edwards' hands last time out.
The bout was confirmed by UFC president Dana White at the UFC Vegas 67 post-fight press conference, and the UFC boss didn't stop there.
White also confirmed the night's co-main event, which will see two of the most exciting lightweights on the planet go head to head in a blockbuster clash.
Former interim champion Justin Gaethje is must-see TV every time he steps in the Octagon, and he wants to blast his way back into a title shot. To do that, he'll have to defeat one of the most skilled, exciting strikers in the UFC, Rafael Fiziev.
Their bout joins a host of other reported matchups, including a superb all-UK clash at featherweight between Nathaniel Wood and Lerone Murphy, and the return to action of Icelandic submission ace Gunnar Nelson.
UFC 286: Reported bouts
- Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman 3 – for welterweight title
- Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev
- Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze
- Nathaniel Wood vs. Lerone Murphy
- Joanne Wood vs. Luana Carolina
- Gunnar Nelson vs. Daniel Rodriguez
- Jake Hadley vs. Malcolm Gordon
- Casey O'Neill vs. Jennifer Maia
- Jai Herbert vs. L'udovit Klein
- Chris Duncan vs. Michal Figlak
- Veronica Macedo vs. Juliana Miller
