Jamaican-born British UFC fighter Leon Edwards having retained his welterweight world title in London on the weekend is predicting a very long reign at the top.
In what was his first title defense, the 31 year old beat challenger….the former champion Kamaru Usman by majority decision in the highly anticipated trilogy fight that was the co-main event at UFC 286.
Edwards in emerging victorious extended his win streak to an incredible 13 straight fights.
He had to sit out two years because of injuries and the pandemic and then after returning had another 14-month stint on the sidelines.
But now, after defeating Kamaru Usman by majority decision in the main event at The O2 Arena in London, England, the skeptics have nothing left to say. The doubters, if they still exist, are being willfully ignorant.
This is a guy who hasn’t lost since dropping a decision to Usman in 2015. Since, he’s reeled off 11 consecutive victories and solidified his place as MMA’s top welterweight with a pair of victories over Usman in a seven-month span.
He headlined a card at his adopted home in England and not only sold out the place with 17,588 fans in attendance, he set a gate record for the O2. The $8.6 million paid gate was four times better than any UFC show in England previously, UFC president Dana White said.
The judges scored it 48-46 twice and 47-47 for Edwards, giving him a majority decision seven months after his victory over Usman on August 20 in Salt Lake City.