Five reasons to watch UFC 286, with a trilogy between Edwards and Usman for the welterweight belt

Leon edwards (left) and Kamaru Usman (dir.) star UFC 286. Photo: SUPER FIGHTS montage

The big moment has arrived. This Saturday (18), in London (ING), the UFC 286. With 15 fights scheduled, the show promotes the long-awaited trilogy between the welterweight champion (up to 77,1kg.), Leon edwards and the group's former leader, Kamaru Usman. With a victory for each side, the confrontation will determine who will be the absolute king of the category.

Champion of the division between 2019 and 2022, Usman returns to the Octagon about seven months after suffering one of the biggest comebacks in the company's history. Faced with his latest executioner, the Nigerian needs to prove that the stumble was the result of chance and that he is still capable of dominating the group.

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In the co-main fight, a clash that promises to stir the spirits of MMA fans. Former interim lightweight champion (up to 70,3kg), the aggressive Justin gaethje face the dangerous Raphael Fiziev.

Brazil will have four representatives. On the main card, Jennifer maia will take the yellow-green to the Octagon. In the preliminary, Gabriel Mosquitinho, Jafel Filho, Luana Dread raise the Tupiniquim flag.

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In total, the show has 15 scheduled clashes.

To get into the mood UFC 286: SUPER FIGHTS selected five reasons to watch the show. Check out:

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1) Leon Edwards x Kamaru Usman III: final chapter

L. Edwards (right) won the welterweight belt in UFC 278. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Started in 2015, the rivalry between Leon edwards e Kamaru Usman It should end after the weekend. In the first meeting, the Nigerian got the better of the judges' decision, in a clash that wasn't even valid for the title.

Around seven years later, the fighters returned to face each other in the Octagon. This time, every athlete's biggest dream was at stake. During the second fight, Usman proved his favoritism and controlled his then challenger for around three rounds. Victory seemed to be on its way to the former champion, until, in the final minute, a well-aimed shot from Leon took the 'king' to the canvas.

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Thirsty for revenge, Kamaru needed around seven months to confirm his moment of revenge. At the UFC 286, the organization's fans will know if the belt will go to the home athlete, or if Usman will start a new reign in the category.

2) Usman: the best welterweight of all time?

K. Usman has been welterweight champion since 2019. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Favorite in bookmakers to beat Leon edwards and regain the welterweight belt, Kamaru Usman will try, in addition to resuming the throne of division, to resume an old quest. Before suffering the 'tragic' defeat in 2022, the Nigerian was chasing the position of best representative of the category in the history of MMA.

Currently, the Nigerian is chasing the numbers of the legendary Georges St-Pierre, who, throughout his career in Ultimate, had 13 triumphs in title fights in the company. Kamaru's achievements still appear modest when compared to the Canadian star.

Today, the protagonist of UFC 286 has five positive results in title fights in the company. Usman, however, came close to making history in his second fight against Edwards. If it were not surpassed by English, the 'Nigerian Nightmare' would equal the Anderson Silva, who, throughout his career in Ultimate, achieved 16 consecutive triumphs, a number that has been unreached to this day.

For the weekend's spectacle, the question: even if he regains the belt, does Usman, at 35 years old, still have a chance of fighting for the position of 'Best in History' in the category? It is worth remembering that, as champion, St-Pierre also lost in the organization. The athlete, however, managed to recover, thus beginning one of the most impressive retrospectives in the company's history.

3) Justin Gaethje x Rafael Fiziev: fasten your seatbelts

Justin gaethje (left) and Raphael Fiziev (right) facing the UFC 286. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube UFC

The co-main fight of UFC 286 it's a bomb. To this end, Ultimate selected two of the most aggressive lightweight representatives in its recent history.

On one side, the former interim division champion Justin gaethje tries to fulfill the premise of remaining an exciting fighter. From the other, Raphael Fiziev arrives for the confrontation with the aggression of a lion.

Even as highlights of the division led by Islam makhachev, the winner may not get the chance to compete for the group's belt. An apotheotic outcome or an epic confrontation, however, could change the bosses' minds.

Currently, Gaethje is in third place in the group. Rafael, in turn, is sixth and is asking for a place in the top 5 of the group.

4) Marvin Vettori has a dangerous fight

Marvin vettori (left) and Roman Dolidze (right) facing the UFC 286. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube UFC

High risk, low reward. The phrase could define the commitment of the former challenger to the middleweight belt (up to 83,9kg.), Marvin vettori.

Over the weekend, the Italian took on the challenge of facing a lower ranked opponent. The athlete will measure forces with Roman Dolidze, number nine in the group, which has four big victories, three of which were by knockout.

If he wins, Vettori will defend fourth place in the group. If he is surpassed, the 'Kings MMA' pupil could lose space in the top 5 and momentarily move away from a new opportunity to fight for the throne, currently in possession of Alex Poatán.

5) Jennifer Maia leads Brazilian squad

J. Maia (photo) will have the challenge of defeating V. Shevchenko in the UFC 255, for the flyweight belt. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

At the event taking place in England, Brazil will have four representatives. One, fight on the main card and three on the preliminary.

In the second half of the event, Jennifer maia will be responsible for taking the yellow-green to the Octagon. Former challenger for the flyweight belt (up to 56,7kg), the woman from Paraná is trying to end the unstable phase in her recent retrospect. With three defeats – one of them for the belt – in the last five appearances, the Curitiba native has the role of taking away Casey O'Neil's unbeaten record in MMA. The Scotswoman is experiencing a clear rise and could leave 12th place to take eighth place from Tupiniquim, in the event of a triumph.

Former LFA champion in featherweight (up to 65,7kg.), Gabriel Mosquitinho You will live a dream at the weekend. Undefeated in MMA, the undefeated Brazilian took on the challenge of replacing the injured man at the last minute Nathaniel Wood, and measures forces with Lerone murphy, who also doesn't know what it's like to lose in the sport. The confrontation marks the athlete's debut in the organization.

The day will also be a debut for Jafel Filho. A flyweight representative, the fighter will be welcomed into the company by the dangerous and promising Muhammad Mokayev. The duel could bring the winner closer to the top 15 in the category led by Brandon Moreno.

The first Brazilian to step into the Octagon will be Luana Dread. Recovered from the hard knockout suffered against Molly McCann a year ago, the São Paulo native will face a veteran. To get back on the path to victory, the combatant will need to go through the experienced Joanne Wood, which is going through a dramatic situation, accumulating five setbacks in the last seven clashes.