A welterweight title battle in between champion Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal was the July big-show centerpiece that the UFC wanted all along. It took a bit of a meandering route to arrive, today the hit match is finally official.
Usman and Masvidal both weighed in successfully at 170 pounds on Friday in Abu Dhabi. The 2 will meet in the UFC 251 headliner Saturday on Yas Island, which has actually been called “Fight Island” for a monthlong slate of UFC events.
The fight came together only in the past seven days. Gilbert Burns, who was Usmans arranged opponent, tested positive for COVID-19 on July 3, just hours before the UFC charter was set to leave Las Vegas for Abu Dhabi. Over the weekend, the UFC was able to pertain to terms with Masvidal, who balked at the promotions preliminary offer for the battle two months earlier.
2 RelatedUsman is tied with middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya for 6th on ESPNs top pound-for-pound MMA fighter list. Masvidal is No. 2 at welterweight, just under Usman.
Usman (16-1) has actually never lost in the UFC– a streak of 11 straight success– and has actually not lost because his 2nd pro battle in 2011. The 33-year-old Nigerian, who lives in Florida, last battled at UFC 245 in December– a fifth-round TKO over Colby Covington in what is the most recent UFC title-fight finish ever. That was Usmans very first title defense.
Masvidal (35-13) has actually won three straight, all by knockout or TKO. He has 48 pro battles, the 2nd greatest overall ever for somebody making a UFC title battle debut. The 35-year-old Miami native stopped Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz within an eight-month span in 2015, making him one of the most popular fighters on the UFC lineup.
The five-second KO of Askren was the quickest in UFC history.
The other two title fights on the UFC 251 card are also official.
The co-main event pits featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski versus former champ Max Holloway. Both fighters made weight at 145 pounds. Volkanovski (21-1) beat Holloway (21-5) to win the title at UFC 245 in December.
Previous featherweight champ Jose Aldo and Petr Yan will square off for the bantamweight title left uninhabited by the retired Henry Cejudo. Aldo, in simply his second career fight at bantamweight, weighed 135 pounds, the exact same as his opponent. Aldo (28-6) is on a two-fight losing streak but is considered among the best pound-for-pound fighters ever. Yan (14-1) is 6-0 in the UFC.
Raulian Paiva missed weight, can be found in at 129 pounds for his flyweight fight against Zhalgas Zhumagulov, who made weight at 126 pounds. An official choice concerning that fight has yet to be made.
Vanessa Melo likewise missed weight, can be found in at 141 pounds for her bantamweight fight. Her opponent, Karol Rosa, successfully made weight.
Usman (16-1) has never ever lost in the UFC– a streak of 11 straight triumphes– and has not lost considering that his 2nd pro battle in 2011. The 33-year-old Nigerian, who lives in Florida, last fought at UFC 245 in December– a fifth-round TKO over Colby Covington in what is the latest UFC title-fight finish ever. He has 48 pro fights, the 2nd greatest total ever for someone making a UFC title battle launching.
Gilbert Burns, who was Usmans arranged challenger, checked positive for COVID-19 on July 3, just hours prior to the UFC charter was set to leave Las Vegas for Abu Dhabi. Over the weekend, the UFC was able to come to terms with Masvidal, who balked at the promos initial deal for the fight 2 months earlier.
