Leon Edwards defends his welterweight title in a trilogy match against Kamaru Usman when UFC 286 heads to London's O2 Arena on 18th March.

It's the first time the UK has hosted a numbered event since Michael Bisping - the first Brit to win a UFC title - beat Dan Henderson in Manchester to retain his middleweight belt at UFC 204 in October 2016.

What	UFC 286
Where	O2 Arena, London
When	19:00, Saturday 18th March 2023
How to watch	BT Sport Box Office
Odds	Leon Edwards 2/1, Kamaru Usman 2/5

Now it's the turn of Birmingham's Edwards, just the second UK fighter to hold UFC gold, to top the bill after his stunning victory over Usman at UFC 278 in August.

Edwards, priced at 2/1 To Win, suffered a decision defeat when he first met Usman in December 2015 but he bounced back with a 10-fight unbeaten streak, including nine wins, to secure a rematch with Usman last year.

Behind on the scorecards heading into the fifth and final round, Edwards executed a stunning head kick to seal a shock knockout victory in Salt Lake City.

It was just the second defeat of Usman's career and his first by knockout, bringing his era of dominance to an abrupt halt.

Usman, who is 2/5 To Win, subsequently lost his status as the number one ranked pound-for-pound fighter and he'll be seeking revenge when he heads to London.

The co-main event is a lightweight contest between #3 ranked Justin Gaethje and #6 Rafael Fiziev.

There's no shortage of UK-based fighters on the card in the capital with Jack Shore, Sam Patterson, Muhammad Mokaev, Jai Herbert, Lerone Murphy, Christian Leroy Duncan, Joanne Wood, Jake Hadley and Chris Duncan set to feature. Nathaniel Wood however is set to miss out after a freak training injury ruled him out of his bout with Lerone Murphy.
 

When is UFC 286?

UFC 286 is scheduled to take place on Saturday 18th March.
 

What time is UFC 286?

The preliminary card gets underway at 19:00 and the main card set to start at 21:00, with Edwards and Usman expected to walk to the octagon at around 22:30.
 

Where is UFC 286?

London's O2 Arena hosts UFC 286. 

President Dana White revealed he was considering several stadiums across the UK, including Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

The promotion is returning to the O2 after two extremely successful events in 2022.
 

Can I watch UFC 286?

Yes, BT Sport will broadcast UFC 286.
 

Related MMA News

UFC 284: All you need to know

UFC 287 Fight Card: When, UK Time and how to watch live

Who is the favourite for UFC 286?

Challenger Usman is the 2/5 favourite as he looks to returning to winning ways and reclaim the title that he'd successfully defended on five occasions after first claiming in 2019.

Edwards, despite being the champion and fighting on home soil, is the 2/1 underdog.
 

Are there any belts on the line at UFC 286?

Yes, Edwards puts his welterweight title on the line in the main event.
 

What is Leon Edwards' record?

24 fights, 20 wins (7 KOs), 3 defeats, 1 no contest.
 

What is Kamaru Usman's record?

22 fights, 20 wins (9 KOs), 2 defeats.
 

Who is on the undercard for UFC 286?

Justin Gaethje v Rafael Fiziev
Gunnar Nelson v Daniel Rodriguez
Marvin Vettori v Roman Dolidze
Jack Shore v Makwan Amirkhani
Sam Patterson v Yanal Ashmoz
Muhammad Mokaev v Jafel Filho
Jai Herbert v Ľudovít Klein
Christian Leroy Duncan v Dusko Todorovic
Joanne Wood v Luana Carolina
Malcolm Gordon v Jake Hadley
Julianna Miller v Veronica Macedo
Jennifer Maia v Casey O'Neill
Chris Duncan v Omar Morales
Lerone Murphy v TBD