UFC 286 press conference LIVE: Highlights as Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman face off

The UFC 286 press conference took place in London on Thursday (16 March), as Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman came face to face ahead of their main-event clash.

Edwards knocked out Usman in stunning fashion in August, taking the welterweight title from the Nigerian-American in the final minute of their rematch – seven years after losing to Usman on points.

The old foes will square off once more on Saturday, in a trilogy bout at the O2 Arena in London, as Jamaican-born Briton Edwards defends the belt for the first time.

In the co-main event, former lightweight title challenger Justin Gaethje faces rising contender Rafael Fiziev, and both men also appeared at Thursday’s press conference in the English capital.

Re-live updates from the UFC 286 press conference, below. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos.

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

• Leon Edwards vs Kamaru Usman 3 headlines UFC 286 on Saturday

• UFC 286 takes place at the O2 Arena in London

• Champion Edwards and challenger Usman are tied at 1-1

• Edwards knocked out Usman to take the welterweight title in August

• Usman outpointed the Jamaican-born Briton in 2015

• Co-main event sees Justin Gaethje take on Rafael Fiziev

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

18:01 , Alex Pattle

That’s all from the UFC 286 press conference!

Tomorrow, at 9am GMT, we’ll have live updates from the weigh-ins in London!

Don’t forget to visit The Independent Sport page then...

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

18:00 , Alex Pattle

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

18:00 , Alex Pattle

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:54 , Alex Pattle

Anik: “This is one of the bigger fights we’ve had; I can’t f***ing wait.”

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:51 , Alex Pattle

Usman: “We love this interaction with the fans, but once we’re locked in there and they lock that door, it’s just him and me – his heart versus mine.”

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:49 , Alex Pattle

Fiziev acknowledges the fans chanting his name, by smiling and giving them a fist pump.

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:46 , Alex Pattle

It’s starting to get heated between Edwards and Usman now!

Usman mocks the speech that Edwards’ coach gave him before the fifth round in August.

“You’re letting him bully you, son,” Usman says, mimicking the accent of Edwards’ coach Dave Lovell.

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:44 , Alex Pattle

Edwards is asked about the altitude affecting him in the fight last August.

Usman: “What was the excuse for the first fight?”

Edwards: “What was the excuse for the f***ing head kick you got?”

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:42 , Alex Pattle

Gaethje: “It’s the most violent f***ing game in the world that we’re playing on Saturday. This [talk] is all bulls***.”

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:41 , Alex Pattle

Edwards: “I’m proud to be adopted by the UK, and I’m proud to be Jamaican, too. I’ll be representing both on Saturday.”

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:41 , Alex Pattle

There is a small group of fans at the front of the crowd chanting, “Fiziev!” and “Fiziev, champ!”

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:39 , Alex Pattle

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:38 , Alex Pattle

Usman acknowledges the “Headshot, dead!” chant, laughing and nodding his head.

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:37 , Alex Pattle

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:37 , Alex Pattle

Now the crowd starts a chant of, “It’s coming home,” referencing the England football song “Three Lions”.

Edwards briefly joins in!

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:36 , Alex Pattle

Edwards: “I’m going out there to show off. I know he’s improved, I’m not deluded, but I truly believe I’m the better fighter.”

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:35 , Alex Pattle

It’s so hard to hear the fighters talking; the crowd is so loud in here!

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:35 , Alex Pattle

One journalist mentions that Conor McGregor will be in London this weekend, potentially at UFC 286, and that the Irishman wants a welterweight title shot after fighting Michael Chandler.

Edwards: “As the king, I welcome all challengers.”

Usman also says he’d be interested in that fight.

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:34 , Alex Pattle

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:34 , Alex Pattle

Fiziev: “[Gaethje] deserves everything that people say about him [being so exciting].

“I want the best Justin in front of me in the Octagon. I need the best Justin.”

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:32 , Alex Pattle

Gaethje: “[Fiziev] is the perfect dance partner. We’re gonna blow the roof off [the O2].”

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:32 , Alex Pattle

Usman can’t hear the next question, as the crowd is chanting, “Headshot, dead!” so loudly (referencing Edwards’ post-fight speech after knocking out the former champion in August).

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:30 , Alex Pattle

Edwards: “London, what’s up?!”

Cue a roar from the crowd.

“I’m honoured to be here.”

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:29 , Alex Pattle

Now Leon Edwards emerges to cheers and a “Rocky” chant.

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:29 , Alex Pattle

Kamaru Usman arrives on stage now, ignoring the boos of the fans in attendance.

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:29 , Alex Pattle

Rafael Fiziev is out next, followed by opponent Justin Gaethje.

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:28 , Alex Pattle

UFC commentator Jon Anik has just arrived on stage to host the press conference!

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:25 , Alex Pattle

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:15 , Alex Pattle

The UFC 286 press conference has been delayed slightly, but we’re expecting it to get under way very shortly. Don’t go anywhere!

In fact, check out our interview with Leon Edwards while you wait:

Leon Edwards: ‘Kamaru Usman is coming into enemy territory’ at UFC 286

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:08 , Alex Pattle

A reminder that the four participants at this press conference will be Leon Edwards, Kamaru Usman, and both halves of the co-main event: Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev.

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:03 , Alex Pattle

Today’s press conference is taking place at Magazine in North Greenwich.

It’s a huge, warehouse-like building, and it’s packed with fans.

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

17:00 , Alex Pattle

The UFC 286 press conference is about to get under way!

The Independent is on the ground in North Greenwich, London, to provide you with live updates.

Leon Edwards, Kamaru Usman, Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev will all be on stage.

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

16:55 , Alex Pattle

Here’s more from Kamaru Usman’s media-day appearance on Wednesday:

“I go in there to dominate, I go in there to win, that has never changed. It’s time for me to go in there and get violent.

“I’ve felt violent going into three fights. I felt violent going into the Sergio Moraes fight [in 2017], because I’d been asking for a top-15 [opponent], and I felt disrespected that the UFC matchmakers kept giving me guys that weren’t in the top 15. I felt very, very violent and resentful, and I wanted to show that. We saw what happened [Usman knocked out Moraes in Round 1].”

Here’s Usman on the other two fights in which he had a ‘violent’ mindset, as he revealed that he is starting to feel that way about Saturday’s main event...

Kamaru Usman reveals the three UFC fights he has entered with ‘violent’ intentions

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

16:50 , Alex Pattle

And here is what Kamaru Usman told The Independent on Wednesday, reflecting on the moments that followed his knockout loss to Leon Edwards last August:

Kamaru Usman opens up on daughter’s reaction to Leon Edwards knockout

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

16:45 , Alex Pattle

The Independent was present at the UFC 286 media day on Wednesday, and here is what Leon Edwards had to say about Kamaru Usman...

Leon Edwards: Kamaru Usman can follow his ‘fashion dreams’ after UFC 286

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

16:30 , Alex Pattle

Look at Leon Edwards, and you’ll see gold and green. The romantics will see it in the flicker of the Jamaican flag behind him; the cynics will see it in the glint of his UFC title and the money he can generate.

When the softly spoken, Kingston-born welterweight became Britain’s second ever UFC champion in August – fighting from behind to knock out Kamaru Usman with a minute left on the clock – British MMA finally had a moment to eclipse Michael Bisping’s title win in 2016.

That was not only due to the miraculous nature of Edwards’ victory, which came courtesy of a head kick from the heavens against the pound-for-pound king, a man who had already beaten Edwards; it was also due to the context of the 31-year-old having suffered setback after setback for years leading up to his eventual title shot.

Nothing, seemingly, could rob the moment of its romance, and Edwards’ impending bout also seemed impervious. Why, then, would anyone be disappointed by UFC 286 before it has even begun?

Here is why:

BT Sport risks wasting momentum built by Leon Edwards and British UFC stars

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

16:15 , Alex Pattle

“How times change,” Leon Edwards remarks. When the UFC welterweight champion ventures into the heart of the O2 Arena on Saturday, he will be doing so almost three years to the day after the venue’s veins suffered an untimely blockage.

In 2020, Edwards was due for a main-event showdown with former champion Tyron Woodley, only for the onset of the Covid pandemic to consign the fight to an ether of lost contests. “I was heartbroken, devastated,” Edwards says.

But how times change. And this, a defiant Edwards insists, is his time.

Read our interview with Edwards ahead of his first title defence, against Kamaru Usman this weekend:

Leon Edwards: ‘Kamaru Usman is coming into enemy territory’ at UFC 286

UFC 286 press conference LIVE

16:00 , Alex Pattle

The UFC 286 press conference takes place in London today, as Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman come face to face ahead of their main-event clash.

Edwards knocked out Usman in stunning fashion in August, taking the welterweight title from the Nigerian-American in the final minute of their rematch – seven years after losing to Usman on points.

The old foes will square off once more on Saturday, in a trilogy bout at the O2 Arena in London, as Edwards defends the belt for the first time.

In the co-main event, former lightweight title challenger Justin Gaethje faces rising contender Rafael Fiziev, and both men will appear at today’s press conference in the English capital.