35 UFC stars and experts predict Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman

On Saturday March 18, we will see one of the most anticipated fights of the year, when welterweight champion Leon Edwards put his title on the line against former champ Kamaru Usman in the main event at UFC 286.

Click “Next” to check out how MMA pros and experts predict the fight!

Justin Gaethje

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Top ranked lightweight Justin Gaethje thinks it’s a dangerous fight for his teammate Usman.

”More dangerous than his last fight with him, you know confidence is such a huge factor in this sport and Leon is going to have very high confidence,” Gaethje says. ”Other than that it-factor, Kamaru wins.”

Islam Makhachev

Pick: 50 /50

Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev likes the welterweight title fight a lot.

”Edwards is going to be more comfortable. It’s going to be a good fight. 50/50,” Makhachev says.

Khamzat Chimaev

Pick: Leon Edwards

Khamzat Chimaev thinks that a dominant champion like Kamaru Usman will not be the same fighter after his massive KO loss against Leon Edwards.

”Leon comes and shot his head and dropped the guy. I don’t think he will be the same guy again,” Chimaev says.

Jamahal Hill

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill thinks Usman will stand as the winner in London.

”I think Leon is just more well-rounded, he’s a better fighter,” Hill says. ”I could easily see Leon win again. But I’m going to go with Kamaru.”

Aljamain Sterling

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Reigning bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling thinks Usman will be champ come Saturday night.

”This is a minor setback for a major comeback ,” Sterling says. ”If I’m Usman I like my chances in the rematch.”

Gilbert Burns

Pick: 50/50

Gilbert Burns wants his old training partner Usman to win, but is far from sure that he will.

”It’s a tricky one,” Burns says and refers to Edwards’ and Usman’s last fight. ”Altitude messed with Leon because he looked great in the first round.”

Ciryl Gane

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Two-time heavyweight title challenger Ciryl Gane thinks the former champion will be champ once again.

”Maybe I’m going to say Usman,” Gane predicts.

Mateusz Gamrot

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Top ranked lightweight Mateusz Gamrot thinks the trilogy comes down to who’s mentally strongest.

”I think maybe Usman is going to win,” Gamrot says.

Marvin Vettori

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Middleweight contender Marvin Vettori believes in the former champion.

”Kamaru will do it again, he will get the belt back,” Vettori says.

Aleksandar Rakic

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Top ranked light heavyweight Aleksandar Rakic believes the outcome will depend on if Usman has recovered from the brutal knockout.

”If he’s going to comeback the same, I think he will get a decision win against Leon,” Rakic says.

Erin Blanchfield

Pick: Leon Edwards

Rising flyweight star Erin Blanchfield thinks the reigning champion gets it done on his home turf.

”At that level, anyone can win on any day, but I’m going to go with Leon,” Blanchfield says.

Stephen Thompson

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Welterweight veteran Stephen Thompson believes Usman will get his hands raised in London.

“Well, looking back at the last fight, Usman was winning the majority of the rounds,” Thompson says to Submission Radio. “Leon got the first one. It was amazing, because you never saw Usman getting taken down before and controlled on the ground. Leon did that. After that round, it was all Usman up until the point of he got knocked out.

“Now, do I think Leon could set it up again? I do. But on paper I have Usman winning this fight, just because he was dominating the last one until he just wasn’t. And it’s harder to pull something off again for the second time. It’s gonna be very, very difficult.”

Jan Blachowicz

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz thinks Usman was the better fighter in the last bout.

”I will put my money on Usman,” Blachowicz claims.

Kevin Holland

Pick: Leon Edwards

Welterweight Kevin Holland thinks ”Rocky” will still be the champion after UFC 286.

”I got Leon winning that fight,” Holland says. ”Head kick probably. Or probably a punch this time. Maybe a submission.”

Sean Brady

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Welterweight Sean Brady believes ”The Nigerian Nightmare” will rule the division once again.

”I think Kamaru will take it, I think he’s a better overall fighter,” Brady predicts.

Ben Askren

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Former ONE welterweight champion, and UFC fighter, Ben Askren thinks the former champ will stand as the winner on Saturday.

”Leon impressed me, and he’s probably going to get better, but I still think I lean towards Usman,” Askres says.”

Shavkat Rakhmonov

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov has Usman as the favorite in the massive fight.

”According to the last fight, he was winning a majority of the fight. It really going to depend on Leon , if he’s going to defend takedowns better this time. If not, then I think Kamaru is going to win,” Rakhmonov predicts.

Kevin Lee

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Returning UFC fighter Kevin Lee doesn’t hesitate.

”Kamaru for sure. He got caught sleeping and he’s going to be awake for this one,” Lee says.

Curtis Blaydes

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Top ranked heavyweight Curtis Blaydes thinks Usman will do pretty much the same as what he did in the last bout.

”This time he will be a lot more aware of the head kick. I think he wins,” Blaydes says.

Maycee Barber

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Flyweight Maycee Barber thinks ”The Nigerian Nightmare” will become a two-time champ.

”I got to go for Usman,” Barber says.

Muhammad Mokaev

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Undefeated flyweight prospect Muhammad Mokaev thinks Usman will be the champion after UFC 286.

”I think it’s a good fight, I think Usman will win,” Mokaev predicts.

Gunnar Nelson

Pick: Leon Edwards

Welterweight Gunnar Nelson thinks Edwards got what it takes to defeat Usman once again.

“I think Leon is going to look a lot better than he did last time,” Nelson said. “I think he’s going to win.”

Geoff Neal

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Welterweight Geoff Neal predicts that Usman will retake the belt.

”Unless Leon comes and changes his gameplan and doesn’t get pressed against the cage the whole fight,” Neal says.

Jack Della Maddalena

Pick: Leon Edwards

Up-and-coming welterweight prospect Jack Della Maddalena thinks the champ gets it done.

”I think Leon can do it again,” he says. ”I think he’s got the skillset to do it. Honestly I think Usman’s time has been”

Paul Craig

Pick: Leon Edwards

Paul Craig thinks Edwards confidence will be through the roof going into the rivals third fight.

”I think Edwards will do it again,” Craig predicts.

Dricus Du Plessis

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Rising middleweight contender Dricus Du Plessis thinks Edwards is a great fighter but believes Usman gets it done in the end.

”I think Usman wins that fight, maybe takes that Khamzat fight, then retires,” Du Plessis predicts.

Modestas Bukauskas

Pick: Leon Edwards

Light heavyweight Modestas Bukauskas thinks Edwards will have the advantages on his side at UFC 286 in London.

”Being on home turf, on your home soil, having the adequate training, not having to travel and all that stuff. I think Leon will take this one man,” Bukauskas says.

Eryk Anders

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Eryk Anders believes ”The Nigerian Nightmare” will become champ again.

”I don’t think Usman will make the same mistake twice,” Anders reasons.

Julian Marquez

Pick: Leon Edwards

Middleweight Julian Marquez thinks Edwards will get his hand raised in London, especially due to the bout taking place on sea level.

”I think Leon took a crazy fight last time. He was out of his own element,” Marquez reasons. ”I think Leon is more well-rounded.”

Marc-Andre Barriault

Pick: Leon Edwards

Middleweight Marc-Andre Barriault thinks Usman is one of the best, but questions if he still has the fire inside him.

”I feel like Leon Edwards will still be the champ after this fight,” Barriault predicts.

Tabatha Ricci

Pick: Leon Edwards

Flyweight Tabatha Ricci thinks the champion will defend his strap in front of his home crowd.

”I watched their fight in the arena and it was crazy, Ricci says. ”Leon can win the fight against him, he has confidence right now.”

Alexander Hernandez

Pick: Kamaru Usman

Lightweight Alexander Hernandez believes in the former champion.

”I got Usman. He’s hard to beat,” Hernandez says.

Randy Brown

Pick: Leon Edwards

Welterweight Randy Brown leans towards Edwards but thinks Usman might be the better fighter.

”I hope Leon gets it done,” Brown says.

Jordan Wright

Pick: Leon Edwards

Jordan ”The Beverly Hills Ninja” Wright thinks the high altitude worked in Usman’s favor in their last bout.

”Leon all day,” Wright says.

This is Leon Edwards

• Age: 31
• Record: 20-3
• UFC record: 12-2-1
• Weight: 170 lb (77 kg)
• Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
• Reach: 74 in (188 cm)
• Post-fight bonuses: 2

This is Kamaru Usman

• Age: 35
• Record: 20-2
• UFC record: 15-1
• Weight: 170 lb (77 kg)
• Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
• Reach: 76 in (193 cm)
• Post-fight bonuses: 5

UFC 286 – Full fight Card

Main card

• Welterweight title bout: Leon Edwards (c) vs. Kamaru Usman
• Lightweight bout: Rafael Fiziev vs. Justin Gaethje
• Welterweight bout: Gunnar Nelson vs. Bryan Barberena
• Women’s flyweight bout: Jennifer Maia vs. Casey O’Neill
• Middleweight bout: Roman Dolidze vs. Marvin Vettori

Prelims

• Featherweight bout: Makwan Amirkhani vs. Jack Shore
• Lightweight bout: Chris Duncan vs. Omar Morales
• Lightweight bout: Yanal Ashmoz vs. Sam Patterson
• Flyweight: Jafel Filho vs. Muhammad Mokaev

Early Prelims 

• Featherweight bout: Lerone Murphy vs. Gabriel Santos
• Middleweight bout: Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Dusko Todorovic
• Flyweight: Malcolm Gordon vs. Jake Hadley
• Women’s flyweight: Luana Carolina vs. Joanne Wood
• Lightweight: Jai Herbert vs. Ludovit Klein
• Women’s flyweight: : Veronica Macedo vs. Juliana Miller

*Bout order and number of fights can change.

Complete list: Here are Sweden’s 29 UFC fighters throughout history

---

Follow Frontkick on Instagram for Swedish fight news!