There’s no such thing as beating Leon Edwards at the O2 Arena. Of course, Sean Brady will look to put that to the test at this year’s UFC London.
The former UFC Welterweight Champion is undefeated at the iconic English venue where he returns in the main event slot against top contender Sean Brady.
4-0 at the O2 Arena, Birmingham’s Leon Edwards isn’t used to losing in his backyard, only defeated by current champ Belal Muhammad in his last 14 fights. That fight took place at the Co-Op Arena in Manchester at 5am.
Outside of Muhammad, Edwards has only been defeated by one man in the last 10 years: former pound-for-pound king Kamaru Usman.
Leon Edwards’ latest history at O2 Arena
No win is greater in Edwards’ career than the head kick KO he dethroned Usman with at UFC 278, mounting an unbelievable comeback to win the world title in the fifth round. Edwards had avenged a previous decision loss to Usman from 2015.
Still, Edwards stood a 2-to-1 underdog to beat Usman in the rematch at UFC 286 a few months later at the O2 Arena. A return to sea level for Edwards after battling elevation in Salt Lake City.
There were more than 17,000 fans in attendance with British stars like ‘Spider-Man’ actor Tom Holland and ‘Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams cageside to watch their countryman Edwards prove the result in the rematch was no fluke.
How Leon Edwards pulled off the upset (again)
With the threat of his fight-ending head kick, Edwards outpointed a relatively more gunshy Kamaru Usman with leg kicks and body kicks.
Usman kept Edwards on the backfoot like he did at UFC 278, however, the former champ was unable to really get his grappling going to the great effects of the first two fights. Edwards worked his boxing, winding up his shots and throwing low kicks from the outside.
Edwards fended off 11 takedowns out of 15 attempts.
Edwards would take the trilogy 2-1, defeating Usman by in a razor-close majority decision.
Edwards did face controversy following the result, as ‘Rocky’ had a point withdrawn due to a fence grab in round 3. He also grabbed the gloves of Usman, fouling him twice as well, but no matter – Edwards had retained the welterweight strap over a pound-for-pound legend. An eight-year chapter finally closed.
Leon Edwards attempts to go 5-0 at the O2 Arena when he meets Sean Brady in the UFC London headliner.