UFC 286
| Company type | Event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mixed martial arts |
| Founded | March 18, 2023 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
Area served | United Kingdom |
UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3 was a mixed martial arts event organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 18, 2023, hosted at The O2 Arena in London, England.
Background
The main attraction featured the third encounter for the UFC Welterweight Championship between reigning champion Leon Edwards and former titleholder Kamaru Usman. Their initial meeting occurred in December 2015, with Usman securing a unanimous decision victory. Edwards captured the championship by delivering a fifth-round knockout against Usman at UFC 278 in August 2022. Former interim champion Colby Covington was designated as the official backup for this contest.
Several matchups underwent modifications leading up to the event: lightweight Michał Figlak withdrew due to injury and was substituted by Omar Morales. Featherweight Nathaniel Wood pulled out because of a leg injury, with LFA Featherweight Champion Gabriel Santos stepping in to face Lerone Murphy. Additionally, welterweight Daniel Rodriguez exited the card for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Bryan Barberena to compete against Gunnar Nelson.
At the weigh-ins, Malcolm Gordon failed to make the flyweight limit by 3.5 pounds. Consequently, his fight proceeded at catchweight, and he was penalized 30% of his purse, which was awarded to his opponent Jake Hadley.
During the live broadcast, it was announced that former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame as the next member of the "pioneer wing." Silva holds UFC records for both the longest championship tenure (2,457 days) and the most consecutive victories (16).
Results
Bonus awards
A $50,000 bonus was awarded to the following competitors:
- Fight of the Night: Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev
- Performance of the Night: Gunnar Nelson and Jake Hadley