Leon Edwards talks preparation and mindset for Kamaru Usman showdown at UFC 286

Leon Edwards, the reigning UFC welterweight champion, is getting ready to face Kamaru Usman in the highly anticipated UFC 286 event at the O2 Arena in London tonight. He recently shared insights into his preparation and mindset for this crucial showdown.

During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour show with Ariel Helwani, Leon Edwards shared some valuable insights into his preparation for his first title defense.

Edwards acknowledged that Usman is a formidable opponent and is expecting a tough battle as he remains undefeated in the UK and is fully prepared to take on Usman's overall boxing and MMA skills.

"As far as the knockout goes, let's see how he reacts. I'm not really banking on him being gun shy, you know. We'll see, I have said it time to time that a devastating knockout does change the fight. So, let's see how he reacts when I'm sinking him shots towards his head."

Check out the entire conversation here:

Edwards highlighted the importance of his training regime and how he has been working on improving his skills and conditioning. He also mentioned that he has been studying Kamaru Usman's fighting style and tactics, and has developed a game plan to counter them.

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UFC 286 start time and broadcast schedule for the Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman trilogy

The hotly-anticipated UFC 286 event is set to take place tonight with an impressive card from top to bottom. Fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the Edwards vs. Usman trilogy fight, where Leon Edwards will defend his welterweight gold against former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman on his home turf.

The co-main event also features Justin Gaethje facing off against Rafael Fiziev, promising an explosive and action-packed fight. The event kicks off with a six-fight early preliminary card at 1 p.m. ET on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+. The preliminary card is headlined by a featherweight bout between Lerone Murphy and Gabriel Santos.

Following that, the UFC 286 fight card moves to ESPNews/ESPN+ at 3 p.m. ET, with a featherweight contest between Jack Shore and Makwan Amirkhani headlining this portion of the event.

UFC fans can expect a thrilling night of fights, with some of the biggest names in the sport showcasing their skills and battling it out in the octagon. With the Edwards vs. Usman trilogy fight taking center stage, and other exciting matchups on the card, the UFC 286 event promises to be a must-watch for MMA fans.