Leon Edwards has defended his welterweight title in his highly-anticipated trilogy fight with Kamaru Usman.
After taking the belt from Usman with a show-stopping head kick knockout last year, Edwards first defence went his way via majority decision.
Watch UFC 286: Edwards v Usman 3 LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday March 19 from 8am AEDT. ORDER NOW >
In a fight that went the full five round distance, Edwards had his hand raised after the judges scored it 48-46, 48-46, 47-47.
Edwards was deduced a point during the fight after a blatant fence grab but it mattered little as he landed the more telling blows throughout the fight as he worked behind brutal kicks to Usman’s head and body.
The challenger and former champion was seething after the judges announcement as he stormed around the octagon throughout Edwards’ post-fight interview.
“I think I did enough to win the fight. I knew it was a clsoe fight, great game plan. I’m not done, I’ll see him again,” Usman said.
“Much respect, London you’ve got yourself a great champion.
“I’m going to get back with my coaches, sit and relax … spend some time with my daughter.”
Sitting ringside was welterweight challenger Colby Covington who called out Edwards as the champion said he’ll take a trip to Miami to shut him up next.
“I didn’t see anything special, he got some how cooking judging. It’s time to come and see the man,” Covington said after the fight.
“It was a close competitive fight, it was a coin toss and anybody’s fight. He’s been working on his takedown defense, but he hasn’t fought anybody like me.
“I’m going to finish him in style, international fight week in July … let’s get it going.”
Freak recovers from sickening contortion to win
Muhammad Mokaev somehow escaped a knee-bending lock to beat Jafel Filho by submission himself.
The flyweight looked in all sorts of trouble in the third and final round as his leg was twisted in a knee bar, The Sun reports.
But the former amateur world champion refused to tap out and eventually got back to his feet.
And Mokaev will be glad he did too as he managed to take Filho down and secure a rear naked choke.
Filho was unable to break free and was forced to tap out, securing Mokaev a remarkable turnaround victory.
The Russian-born Manchester-raised prospect was left barely able to walk as he hobbled to his feet in celebration of his tenth pro win.
Mokaev said: “To be honest, I need to finish.
“This is my fourth fight in 12 months. I’m 22-years-old, I will be ranked number ten after this fight, after Jon Jones, who else is doing this?”
He said he knew his knee was “cracking” when trapped in the knee bar.
UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall – working for BT Box Office – was full of praise for the resilient Mokaev.
Aspinall said: “What did I say about this man’s mentality? This man is different to the rest.
“The stuff that this guy’s been through in his personal life, the guy has been through so much adversity.
“The guy is not going to give up with something like that.
“His mental strength, his physical strength, 95 per cent of people at least, 99 per cent would have definitely tapped to that technique.”
The rest of the world was just as astounded.
UFC commentator Zac Pacleb wrote on Twitter: Good god how on earth did Mokaev survive this?”
Full fight card — UFC 286
Main event card
Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman
Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev
Gunnar Nelson vs. Bryan Barberena
Jennifer Maia def Casey O’Neill via UD (30-27, 29-28 x 2)
Marvin Vettori def Roman Dolidze via UD (29-28 x 2, 30-27)
Preliminary card
Jack Shore def Makwan Amirkhani via submission in Round Two
Chris Duncan def Omar Morales via SD (29-28 x 2, 27-30)
Sam Patterson def by Yanal Ashmoz via TKO in Round One
Muhammad Mokaev def Jafel Filho via submission in Round Three
Early prelims
Lerone Murphy def Gabriel Santos via split decision (29-28 x 2, 28-29)
Christian Leroy Duncan def Dusko Todorovic via TKO (injury) in Round One
Malcolm Gordon def by Jake Hadley via TKO in Round One
Joanne Wood def Luana Carolina via SD (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)
Jai Herbert drew with Ludovit Klein (29-27, 28-28 x 2)
Juliana Miller def by Veronica Macedo via UD (30-27 x 3)
— with foxsports.com.au
#Colby #Covington #wasnt #convinced #champ