Welterweight champ Usman knocks out Masvidal as US fans return to UFC events
Valentina Shevchenko kept her flyweight belt and Rose Namajunas regained the strawweight strap at UFC 261. By AFP Sunday 25 Apr 2021, 9:58 AM 2 hours ago 1,955 Views 1 Comment Kamaru Usman stops Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261. Source: Gary McCullough
THE UFC WELCOMED back American fans for their first live event in over a year overnight and three of its greatest fighters Kamaru Usman, Rose Namajunas and Valentina Shevchenko rose to the occasion with stunning knockouts at UFC 261 in Jacksonville, Florida.
Nigerian-American welterweight champion Usman knocked American challenger Jorge Masvidal out cold with a thunderous straight right to the chin at 1.02 of the second round in the main event, and warned those gathered –- and other fighters
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman defended his title for the fourth consecutive time on Saturday night. His UFC 261 victory over Jorge Masvidal moved his overall record to 19-1.
Usman defeated Masvidal once before less than a year ago, but that fight went to a decision. This time, he finished the bout with a statement, dropping Masvidal with a bone-crushing right hand, and then finishing with a couple hammerfists before the referee could pull him off.
Asked if those last couple of “extra shots” felt good to him, Usman told a reporter at the UFC 261 post-fight press conference that they were “super necessary.”
Dana White: Kamaru Usman will fight Colby Covington next
April 25, 2021
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman made the fourth consecutive defense of his title at UFC 261 on Saturday night. Only moments removed from the fight, UFC president Dana White reiterated that Colby Covington would be next for the champ.
Usman’s win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261 was a rematch. Now, he’s tasked with another rematch in Covington.
“The fight between him and Colby Covington is one of the greatest fights I’ve ever seen. Those two stood in there toe to toe, blasting each until Colby went down with a broken jaw,” White said at the UFC 261 post-fight press conference.
UFC 261 bonuses: Kamaru Usman and Rose Namajunas bank bonuses
April 25, 2021
Officials announced the UFC 261 bonuses immediately following Saturday night’s championship tripleheader in front of a packed house at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. It was the fight promotion’s first event allowed to have a sold-out live audience since the initiation of pandemic restrictions in early 2020.
The fight promotion set the venue record for gate numbers generating $3.3 million in receipts. 15,269 spectators attended the event.
Fight of the Night:
Fight of the Night honors went to the flyweights from the preliminary fight card. Jeff Molina defeated Qileng Aori by unanimous decision in a back-and-forth battle.