BREAKING: UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman main card loses welterweight matchup, new opponent announced
UFC 286 will go down at the O2 Arena in London on March 18, marking the promotion's return to England after eight months. The event will be headlined by a rubber fight between Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards with 'Rocky's' welterweight strap on the line.
Welterweight prospect Daniel Rodriguez was scheduled to take on Gunnar Nelson in a main card matchup at UFC 286. However, the fight has now fallen through, with Rodriguez pulling out for reasons that are yet to be disclosed.
The UFC has thankfully found a replacement for 'D-Rod' in another welterweight slugger, Bryan Barberena. Barberena takes on 'Gunni', who will return to the octagon exactly a year after a decision win against Takashi Sato that ended a two-fight skid.
D.Rodriguez out. Gunnar Nelson will now fight Bryan Barberena at #UFC286 on March 18th. #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN #UFC2023 #UFCLondon https://t.co/M8KL68yDEj
Meanwhile, 'Bam Bam' will look to bounce back from a submission loss against Rafael dos Anjos that ended a three-fight win streak in December.
Daniel Rodriguez was also eyeing a bounce back from a submission loss against Neil Magny that stopped him from entering the welterweight rankings. 'D-Rod' was riding a four-fight win streak prior to the Magny loss with victories over Mike Perry, Kevin Lee and Li Jingliang. The 36-year-old posted a video from the gym on his Instagram Stories, hours before the announcement of his UFC 286 fight cancelation.
UFC 286: Leon Edwards has never lost a fight in England
Leon Edwards starched Kamaru Usman with a head kick in the fifth round of their main event clash at UFC 278 in August. Edwards was on his way to a lopsided loss before pulling off one of the biggest upsets in MMA history with hardly a minute left on the clock.
The altitude of the venue, Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, is believed to have affected the fighters' cardio, with Edwards even labeling it as one of his worst performances. After managing to pull off a shock upset against all odds at UFC 278, 'Rocky' doesn't see himself losing in front of his home fans in London at UFC 286.
Undefeated in the UK throughout his amateur and pro career, UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards recently told BT Sport:
"I’ve never lost in the UK. I’ve never lost at UFC London… Pro and amateur. So, I’m taking that confidence into it. I’m taking the confidence of knowing I can knock him out into it. I’m taking the confidence of knowing I can take him down into it. I’m taking the confidence of knowing that once it hits the mat and I’m on top, I’m way better. Just all taking into it. My heritage, my story, it’s all going into it. I just can’t see how he comes over and beats me.”
Catch Edwards' comments below: