In a welterweight championship bout in the main event, Leon Edwards takes on Kamaru Usman Saturday at UFC 286 at the O2 Arena in London. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3 odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.
The fights are on ESPN+ with the early prelims starting at 12:30 p.m. ET and the prelims beginning at 3 p.m. ET. The main card starts at 5 p.m. ET on Pay-Per-View.
Edwards and Usman meet for the third time in their careers. Usman recorded a unanimous decision victory in Dec. 2105 in their first battle but Edwards took the welterweight belt from Usman in Aug. 2022 at UFC 278, leveling the series at 1 victory apiece.
The trilogy was almost a certainty to happen.
Edwards knocked Usman out with less than a minute remaining in that 2022 bout. It was a rare stoppage for the Briton, too, as he had gone the distance in 4 of his previous 5 fights, not including a no-contest against Belal Muhammad for an accidental eye poke in March 2021.
Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.
UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:27 a.m. ET.
- Fight result (2-way line): Leon Edwards +200 (bet $100 to win $200) | Kamaru Usman -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
- Over/Under: 4.5 rounds (Over -190 | Under +150)
- Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -170 | No +125)
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]
[betwidget_tipico]
UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman picks and predictions
Records: Edwards (20-3-0) | Usman (20-2-0)
Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)
Usman takes the walk to the octagon looking to snatch his belt back from Edwards after getting knocked out in the 5th round at UFC 278 in August. That was Usman’s first loss since a setback to Jose Caceres at CFA 11 way back in May 2013.
Usman had won 19 straight fights, including each of his first 14 bouts at the UFC level. That includes a fight over Edwards via unanimous decision in his UFC debut back in Dec. 2015. He had held the welterweight title and defended it 5 times since March 2019 when he picked up a unanimous decision over Tyron Woodley.
Usman had won 3 of his prior 5 fights via KO/TKO, with a pair of unanimous decision victories.
Edwards has managed a 10-0 record with one no-contest across his past 11 bouts since the setback to Usman in 2015. He went the distance in 4 of his past 5 full fights, not including the ND against Belal Muhammad in the main event in March 2021.
It’s a good idea to look to the METHOD OF VICTORY, instead of Usman on the 2-way line. USMAN BY POINTS (+112) is a solid value at plus money.
Over/Under (O/U)
While Usman by points may be the play, Over 4.5 Round (-190) is a little too steep of a price. Instead, roll with YES: FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE (-170).
Edwards has just 4 finishes in the past 12 full fights, not including the no-contest, while Usman has gone the distance in 6 of his past 10 outings, and 10 of the previous 15.
Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]
For sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Plus, try out the USA TODAY Parlay Calculator and please gamble responsibly.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=2559]