London calling! UFC 286 will see the MMA leader return to the UK, bringing with it a stacked card. From a native champion, rising stars and much more, this show promises to be one of the highlights of the year.

Taking the marquee spot, UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards will return to England for his first title defense. To solidify his spot as the top 170lb fighter on the planet, he must, once more, beat the man who he took the title from; Kamaru Usman. The former king is dead set on regaining his throne and proving that Edwards’ win in 2022 was a mere fluke.

A lightweight barnburner is set for the co-main event. Former interim champion Justin Gaethje hopes to return to title contention, but to do so, he will have to hold off the Azerbaijani striking sensation in Rafael Fiziev.

Let’s take a closer look at the whole card!

DISCLAIMER: all odds were taken from the official ESPN website and are accurate, as of the time of writing.

***

Main card (9pm GMT)

(c) Leon Edwards (20-3, 1 NC) vs (#1) Kamaru Usman (20-2) – UFC welterweight championship bout

Birmingham’s championship sniper rewrote the history books forever with a single kick. Now, he has the cement his status, but Nigeria’s finest is out to prove that lightning doesn’t strike twice.

Against all the odds, Leon Edwards pulled a knockout win out of the bag in August 2022. A fight that he was clearly losing was all but set to go the distance, just for the Jamaican-born striker to land a picture-perfect head kick with a minute to go. His chapter with Usman is not yet over, however; he will have to triumph once again to truly solidify his position.

Stylistically, Edwards’ striking is his biggest advantage, as was shown in both of their previous bouts. His explosive kicks, rangy boxing and technical prowess keep him dangerous up until the closing moments of any fight. The defensive wrestling of Edwards didn’t prove to be of much use against the berserker that is Usman, but he did have success with offensive grappling. It’ll be interesting to see if that is something that he weaves into his game plan for this fight. ‘Rocky’ isn’t favoured to get the job done for a second time, but a London crowd could be the catalyst for a huge homecoming win.

The top pound-for-pound spot, the welterweight title and an unbeaten streak were among the prestiges that Kamaru Usman dropped at UFC 278. Despite controlling the vast majority of the contest and seemingly being en route to a win on the scorecards, everything came crashing down. Now, however, Usman is coming back to prove his status and regain his title, ready as ever.

Usman’s top strength is obviously his grappling ability. The entirety of his career has been, essentially, defined by being a dominant wrestler. His boxing has steadily improved with time, though it’s still not his forté. He did show to be capable of trading blows with Edwards in their most recent encounter, but given how the fight ended, I would assume that Usman will be more cautious this time around. ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ is as mentally strong as they come, and a loss won’t easily deter him from picking up where he left off.

ODDS: (c) Edwards (+200), Usman (-240)

(#3) Justin Gaethje (23-4) vs (#6) Rafael Fiziev (12-1) – lightweight bout

Two of the finest lightweight strikers – one hardened veteran and one explosive prospect – will face off in the co-main event of UFC 286.

A pair of failed undisputed title opportunities have left Justin Gaethje in an odd posititon at 155lbs. In order to establish a better position in the title picture, he will need a string of emphatic wins against the new breed of fighters. Now, the former interim champion has a chance to light up the O2 Arena and get himself back on the right path.

In each of his bouts, Gaethje is at his best in striking exchanges, where his sheer punching power shines through. His kicks, particularly to the legs, are also a major source of success. He chops at the legs from all sorts of angles, which can be attributed to the dexterity of his hips. The Arizona native has shown a tendency to become reckless in the heat of a firefight, which could cost him in this fight. Presuming that he can remain calm, ‘The Highlight’ has all the skills to make this a performance to remember.

Since his UFC debut in 2019, Rafael Fiziev has been impressing fans with flashy showcases. The Azerbaijani prospect has built together a streak of six straight wins, including finishes against Rafael dos Anjos, Brad Riddell and Renato Moicano. With a title fight potentially being on the cards in 2023, Fiziev looks to make it clear that he deserves a spot in the top five of his division.

Similar to his opponent, Fiziev’s preferred realm of MMA is on the feet. Being a former Muay Thai pro and an alumni of the fabled Tiger Muay Thai gym, it’s safe to say he’s more than capable of ending a fight in a flash. Lightning-fast kicks and tremendous head movement are blended together to make Fiziev a nightmare for everyone he faces. The oddsmakers have ‘Ottman’ over 1/2, and the way that his skillset matches up with Gaethje’s makes it clear to see why.

ODDS: Gaethje (+210), Fiziev (-230)

Gunnar Nelson (18-5-1) vs Bryan Barberena (18-9) – welterweight bout

Fireworks are expected in the welterweight feature bout, with stylistic opposites on tap to throw down.

Time away from the ring have kept Gunnar Nelson out of the spotlight, but it appears that the Icelandic grappler wants to make a return to high-level competition. A decision win against Takashi Sato in 2022 helped Nelson to shake out the cobwebs of a three year layoff, though he was inactive for the remainder of the year. His karate-based striking has always been a crutch to use in MMA, but his BJJ black belt is what really shines through. His twelve submission finishes in eighteen wins say all that needs to be said. ‘Gunni’ is the bookie’s favourite to pick up the win, given his decided advantages on the mat.

His prosperous 2022 campaign was cut short at the end of the year, but Bryan Barbarena isn’t one to dwell on a loss. The Knoxville scrapper has continually been happy to sling leather with anybody who is stood opposite him. Elven knockout wins have been notched on Barbarena’s record over the course of a 14 year career, which have come from his relentless pressure and constant barrages of offence. ‘Bam Bam’ can never be counted out of a fight. I fully expect him to do everything in his power to have the London crowd on their feet.

ODDS: Nelson (-400), Barberena (+300)

(#9) Jennifer Maia (20-9-1) vs (#11) Casey O’Neill (9-0) – flyweight bout

A yet-unstoppable Scottish prospect has her sights on the top ten, but one of Brazil’s toughest contenders will have to turn her back to maintain her spot.

Giving Valentina Shevchenko her first sense of danger has given Jennifer Maia a reputation amongst her fellow flyweights. Losses to the division’s elites haven’t been held against her, seeing as she has remained competitive with the likes of Manon Fiorot and Katlyn Chookagian. The former Invicta champion is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and brings the style of the legendary Chute Box team. Given the caliber of her opponent, many fans aren’t giving Maia a fair chance in this fight, but she could absolutely derail the hype train.

Heralded as one of the future greats of her weight class, Casey O’Neill has captured the imaginations of fans. A nasty ACL injury kept the Scottish-Aussie out of action for the vast majority of 2022. Now, however, she is primed and ready for a return. Finishes in her first three bouts, alongside a decision win against Roxanne Modaferri, showed that O’Neill is a grappling phenom that commands respect. It is certainly her toughest test to date, but ‘King Casey’ is expected to soar high in her return bout at UFC 286.

ODDS: Maia (+150), O’Neill (-175)

(#4) Marvin Vettori (18-6-1) vs (#8) Roman Dolidze (12-1) – middleweight bout

An Italian top five contender and a dangerous Georgian up-and-comer will open up the UFC 286 main card.

It’s often easy to forget that, for such an experienced fighter, Marvin Vettori is only 29 years of age. Italy’s best has become a face at the forefront of the middleweight division, having challenged for the title and been in multiple high-profile bouts. His efforts to beat those at the uppermost level, however, have been thwarted. Now, Vettori wants to get himself back on track and into the title mix. His wrestling has served as the strongest area of his game throughout his career, though his kickboxing has continued to improve. His chin has also been shown to be of a legendary status. Turning back a prospect like Dolidze would be a great notch on the belt for ‘The Italian Dream’.

Considered a dark horse of the division up until that point, Roman Dolidze made his mark at 185lbs in his last outing. An impressive stoppage of the ever-tough Jack Hermansson proved that Dolidze was not only deserving of the praise he had garnered, but was ready to take on opponents in the top ten. He will have the opportunity to leap into the top five, with a win at UFC 286. Dolidze is a specialist on the mat, being a former ADCC Asia and Oceania champion. Should the fight stay standing, the Georgian is more than happy to strike; his KOs of Phil Hawes and Kyle Daukaus can evidence this. Dolidze is fresh blood at middleweight, so don’t be surprised if a win sets him up for a title shot.

ODDS: Vettori (-300), Dolidze (+240)

Prelims (7pm GMT)

(#15 – BW) Jack Shore (16-1) vs Makwan Amirkhani (17-8) – featherweight bout

Wales’ best makes the move upwards in weight, but a Finnish grappling specialist is no easy task for his debut.

The undefeated run of Jack Shore came to an unfortunate end in his last outing. In spite of this, he’s ready to return; this time, as a featherweight. Shore feels that a lighter weight cut will optimise his preparation and bring out his prime form. In terms of skill, fighters don’t come more well rounded than the Welshman. His grappling and striking arsenals can both present him with opportunities to control the fight. At only 28 years old, ‘Tank’ still has so much time to improve upon a skillset that is bound to be one of the deepest at 145lbs.

Finland’s Makwan Amirkhani has always been a staple of the UFC’s ventures to Europe. Though his initial projections as a title threat have faded with time, he remains to be a dangerous combatant that has ring time with some of the world’s best. The three-time POTN winner has shown most profiency on the ground, as shown by his twelve submission victories. Given the caliber of Shore’s striking, I doubt that Amirkhani will be eager to keep this one on the feet for long. He sits as almost a 4/1 underdog, but wrapping up a neck is always a possibility for ‘Mr. Finland’.

ODDS: Shore (-500), Amirkhani (+380)

Chris Duncan (9-1) vs Omar Morales (11-3) – lightweight bout

A battle-tested Venezuelan contender will have to welcome a Scottish knockout artist to the UFC.

The second DWCS appearance of Chris Duncan almost ended in disaster, but it ultimately produced an exhilirating comeback finish. The Scotsman worked his way from the regional scene to Bellator, but is now excited to do his best work on the world’s biggest stage. His knockout power has been on display in almost all of his outings. As I mentioned, his ability to take a punch is not in question. A talent-rich division like 155lbs will only benefit from having a prospect like ‘The Problem’ within their ranks.

A pair of wins in his first two UFC bouts set Omar Morales up for big things at lightweight, but middling results since then have stifled his hopes. He comes into this bout on the back of two stoppage losses; it’s safe to say that this fight is do-or-die. Seven of Morales’ career wins have come by finish, with five submissions and two knockouts. He’s happy to stand and bang for fifteen minutes, as seen in his outings with Gabriel Benitez and Giga Chikadze. The oddsmakers have ‘Venezeulan Fighter’ narrowly ahead on the betting lines, showing just how close this one is on paper.

ODDS: Duncan (-105), Morales (-115)

Sam Patterson (10-1-1) vs Yanal Ashmoz (6-0) – lightweight bout

Both a highly-touted English and Israeli prospects, respectively, will have to take out the other to make a splash in their debut.

Fans in the UK have been eagerly awaiting the debut of Sam Patterson. His run in BRAVE CF culminated in a shot at winning a contract on DWCS, which he claimed with a submission win. Now, Patterson is ready to extend his undefeated streak to ten. He has shown to be a measured competitor that uses his height and length to his advantage. No matter where the fight goes, Patterson won’t be under pressure. He may be flying under the radar of international audiences, but I’m looking forward to seeing what ‘The Future’ can do at UFC 286.

A win at PFL Challenger Series didn’t secure Yanal Ashmoz a spot in the promotion, but it did capture the attention of UFC brass. The Israel native now has a shot at collecting his sixth finish and playing spoiler for the London crowd. Ashmoz hasn’t quite had the elite experience to call him a threat to the division just yet, but his potential has definitely shown. He’s a relatively well-rounded athlete, though I do have a feeling that he’ll try to keep this one standing. ‘Red Fox’ is an interesting addition to this card, for sure.

ODDS: Patterson (-), Ashmoz (-)

(#12) Muhammad Mokaev (8-0, 1 NC) vs Jafel Filho (14-2) – flyweight bout

MMA’s brightest prospect returns to the Octagon to take on a surging Brazilian debutant.

Three decisive wins for Muhammad Mokaev let it be known that the hype is real. The amateur champion’s transition to professional life has been without fault, to this point. With a ranking beside his name and hopes to become the youngest UFC champion, Mokaev has a planned for a big year ahead. The Dagestan-born Mancunian is best-known for his powerful takedowns and slick submissions, but has proven to be just as capable in his striking. ‘The Punisher’ is a supremely talented prospect and it feels like this will be another display of that.

Given the opponent that he’s up against, many fans won’t even give consideration to who Jafel Filho is. It’s unwise, however, to overlook the Brazilian, who came through DWCS in 2022. He’s riding a run of five straight finishes, only one of which has made it out of the second round. As a matter of fact, Filho has only seen the scorecards twice in a 16-fight career. He’s a physically strong wrestler, who has a knack for scrambling out of bad situations and powerful hands. ‘Pastor’ is not someone to write off, even if the oddsmakers have him at 5/1.

ODDS: Mokaev (-800), Filho (+550)

Early prelims (5pm GMT)

Lerone Murphy (11-0-1) vs Gabriel Santos (10-0) – featherweight bout

It’s a battle of the unbeatens to cap off the early prelims; an English dark horse and a debuting LFA champion will meet in a featherweight clash.

I find it frustrating that there aren’t more people talking about Lerone Murphy. He has done nothing but show that he is a sensational fighter with an inspirational story. Nevethless, he now has an opportunity to make a statement on a major card. Murphy is a clasically trained striker, using powerful kicks and explosive punches to keep his opponents moving backwards. His ground game is arguably the weakest portion of his all-around game, but his knockout of Makwan Amirkhani showed that he will punish his opponents for shooting takedowns. ‘The Miracle’ is a very underrated player at 145lbs, so keep your eyes on him.

A pressure fighter who made his name in LFA, Gabriel Santos has taken the short notice call to action for UFC 286. He relinquished his newly-won featherweight title with his home promotion to take this fight, ready to show that he can compete with the best. Santos has utilised his kicks to great effect throughout his career, using them as a tool to keep his opponents on the cage. Once there, the Brazilian is free to let loose with his hands or to throw more devastating kicks. I’m excited to see what ‘Mosquitinho’ can do in his UFC debut.

ODDS: Murphy (-), Santos (-)

Christian Leroy Duncan (7-0) vs Dusko Todorovic (12-3) – middleweight bout

The highly-awaited debut of a Cage Warriors champion will come against a Serbian finishing machine.

When the news of Christian Leroy Duncan’s signing with the UFC became public, there wasn’t a single UK MMA fan that wasn’t buzzing with excitement. The Gloucester native became a fan favourite on the Cage Warriors scene, winning the 185lb title in spectacular fashion and defending it successfully. It’s now up to Duncan to replicate the success that he’s had, but on a global level. He prefers to keep his fights standing, where he has a fondness for setting up his combinations with flashy kicks. Damn us all, should we ever forget his flying knees. Despite his relative inexperience as a pro, ‘CLD’ is one of the best prospects on this card.

Though he has yet to string together a win streak inside the Octagon, Dusko Todorovic has been nothing but entertaining. The Serbian earned a contract through DWCS – before which he knocked out welterweight contender Michel Pereira – and has picked up three wins since then. One glance at Todorovic’s record shows that he doesn’t like leaving his bouts in the hands of the judges. Whether it’s through swinging punches while standing or raining down shots from mount, he likes to finish matters inside the distance. ‘Thunder’ comes into this bout with underdog status, but a single, well-placed shot could upset the odds.

ODDS: Duncan (-190), Todorovic (+160)

Jake Hadley (9-1) vs Malcolm Gordon (14-6) – flyweight bout

A Brummie submission ace is hoping to make it two on the spin, but a Canadian veteran will be in town to spoil the party.

There aren’t many fighters that get singled out by Dana White for their potential as a contender, but Jake Hadley is one of the few. He made right on a disappointing debut bout by submitting Carlos Candelario in November, for which he earned his BJJ black belt. Hadley’s grappling prowess has led to many fans having him tapped as a potential future titleholder. It’s safe to assume that the Birmingham fighter will be hoping to bring this one to the floor, where he’ll be searching for a neck or a limb. ‘White Kong’ is a name that I’m hoping to see a lot more this year.

For the second straight time, Malcolm Gordon will enter the cage with the odds firmly stacked against him. His showing against Muhammad Mokaev was an overperformance, in the eyes of many, despite the loss that he suffered. The former TKO flyweight champion has also shared the ring with such contenders as Sumudaerji and Amir Albazi, giving him invaluable experience with top competitors. The strength of Hadley’s submissions should deter Gordon from attemtping to get this fight to the ground, so expect him to keep this standing. ‘X’ has his work cut out for him at UFC 286.

ODDS: Hadley (-380), Gordon (+310)

Joanne Wood (15-8) vs Luana Carolina (8-3) – flyweight bout

The early prelims will see a pair of flyweight mainstays fight for their place in the elite conversation.

Scottish MMA pioneer Joanne Wood is well-respected by the entire community, in spite of her recent losing streak. The Irvine native has gone winless since 2021, but is ready to make it back to the top-five position that she once held. Wood is a well-rounded contender, but will likely try to keep this one standing. If she gets tied up in the clinch, I would expect her to throw knees and elbows, as she has done in the past. A win in the UK would be huge for ‘JoJo’, at this stage of her career.

Coming to the UFC from a DWCS contract, Luana Carolina has quietly put together an underrated resume. Her victories against Priscilla Cachoeira, Poliana Botelho and Lupita Godinez have been somewhat marred by stoppage losses to Molly McCann and Ariane Lipski. Nevertheless, Carolina is a game opponent that has shown a well-rounded attack. Winning this fight, for ‘Dread’, could finally get her the respect that she has fought for.

ODDS: Wood (-170), Carolina (+150)

Jai Herbert (12-4) vs L’udovit Klein (19-4) – lightweight bout

A pair of all-action strikers will throw down for a coveted spot in the top 15 at lightweight.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that Jai Herbert has never taken an easy fight. His UFC run has consisted of killer after killer, and this one is no different. The former Cage Warriors champion loves to keep his bouts standing, where he can display his crisp boxing. The speed of his punches make him a challenge for everyone that he faces. ‘The Black Country Banger’ is a narrow underdog coming into this bout, but Herbert has all the skills to make this his second straight win.

A 1-2 start to his UFC career forced L’udovit Klein to make a return to the lightweight division, where he is now a respected prospect. Wins over Devonte Smith and Mason Jones showed that the Slovak is a highly capable fighter that could storm the gates of the 155lb rankings. Klein’s patented technique has to be his head kick, which he used to great effect against Shane Young and the aforementioned Jones, respectively. A win for ‘Mr. Highlight’ could set him up for a ranked opponent in the near future.

ODDS: Herbert (+140), Klein (-165)

Juliana Miller (4-1) vs Veronica Hardy (6-4-1) – flyweight bout

A TUF winner making her official debut and a returning Venezeulan sensation will open up the UFC 286 card.

Rejoice fell upon the MMA community upon the news of Juliana Miller’s return to the Octagon. The TUF 31 winner earned many fans through her appearance on the reality show, where her ruthless style led to her finishing Brogan Walker in the finale. Miller also has experience as a competitve grappler, which has honed her jiu-jitsu skills. The bookies have ‘Killer’ favoured by a large margin, which isn’t too surprising to see.

On the sidelines since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, Veronica Hardy is finally ready to jump back into the ring. Injuries forced her to take an extended layoff from competition, but she is now recovered and eager to return. One of the biggest X-factors in this matchup is that she has a close working relationship with UK pioneer and analyst Dan Hardy, her husband and head coach. Having a mind like Dan’s to enhance her already-dangerous arsenal of submissions and strikes makes this all the more interesting. It would be upsetting the odds, but I wouldn’t be suprised to see Hardy get back to winning ways.

ODDS: Miller (-410), Hardy (+320)

***

Who will shine brightest in London? Who have you got picked to win? Let us know in the comments!