UFC 286 is announced for London on March 18 next year

UFC 286 is announced for London on March 18 next year, with Leon Edwards’ huge trilogy fight against Kamaru Usman expected to headline

  • Leon Edwards became welterweight champion by beating Kamaru Usman
  • ‘Rocky’ looks set to return to home soil and attempt to defend belt in trilogy bout
  • UFC have officially announced that London will host a numbered card in March
  • It will be first numbered event in Britain since Michael Bisping vs Dan Henderson 

UFC 286 will take place in London on March 18 next year, in the first numbered event to be held in Britain since Michael Bisping vs Dan Henderson in 2016. 

The organisation confirmed the news that had been widely expected, particularly after Dana White outlined his intentions earlier this year.

The UFC president has seen two wildly successful cards hosted at the O2 Arena in 2022 and it is no surprise that another event has been booked.

Leon Edwards is expected to headline the UFC 286 card in London next year on March 18

Edwards claimed the welterweight belt by knocking out Usman earlier this year

Edwards claimed the welterweight belt by knocking out Usman earlier this year  

No fights have been announced at this stage but it will almost certainly be headlined by Leon Edwards’ trilogy against Kamaru Usman. 

Edwards shocked the world when he delivered a late head kick KO of the former welterweight champion, claiming his belt back in August. 

He had been losing the fight before the fifth-round finish but came up with the killer blow when it mattered. 

It was the first defeat in Usman’s UFC career and the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ will be desperate to reclaim his place at the top. 

In terms of numbered events, UFC 284 will be the first since UFC 204 to take place in the UK. 

The O2 Arena played host twice in 2022 with Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann both winning

The O2 Arena played host twice in 2022 with Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann both winning 

Bisping defended his middleweight title against Henderson in Manchester, on a card that started in the early hours of the morning to accommodate foreign TV audiences. 

It remains to be seen whether the UFC will opt for a similar strategy this time. 

Tickets will be available for general sale on January 27 via AXS and Ticketmaster, with Fight Club members having priority on January 25 followed by early registrants on January 26.

There is a vast array of British talent making waves in the UFC and many of them graced the O2 Arena this year. 

The likes of Paddy Pimblett, Molly McCann, Muhammad Mokaev, Arnold Allen, Paul Craig and many more are likely to be pushing to compete in what will no doubt be a momentous night. 

Muhammad Mokaev (left) is among the British talent who could compete on the card

Muhammad Mokaev (left) is among the British talent who could compete on the card



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