UFC 258 included the expected from welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and strong performances from both women in the co-main event, Alexa Grasso and Maycee Barber. It also included one of the most surprising results in recent memory as Anthony Hernandez defeated Rodolfo Vieira, a seven-time submission grappling world champion, by submission.
The event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night offered a prime showcase for a number of fighters who look to continue their chase for a title. Grasso showed a new dimension to her game and offered Barber a potential blueprint to follow. Hernandez now has the attention of the UFC, so what can he do with it?
UFC 258 included the expected from welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and strong performances from both women in the co-main event, Alexa Grasso and Maycee Barber. It also included one of the most surprising results in recent memory as Anthony Hernandez defeated Rodolfo Vieira, a seven-time submission grappling world champion, by submission.
The event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night offered a prime showcase for a number of fighters who look to continue their chase for a title. Grasso showed a new dimension to her game and offered Barber a potential blueprint to follow. Hernandez now has the attention of the UFC, so what can he do with it?
UFC 258: Usman vs. Burns results and post-fight analysis
Dayne Fox gives instant analysis to the UFC action out of
UFC 258 topped by Kamaru Usman setting a new welterweight record with 13 consecutive wins in a back-and-forth title defense over Gilbert Burns. Feb 14, 2021, 1:22am EST
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Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Heading into the event, it was understood UFC 258 was largely a one-fight card. Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman defending his belt against Gilbert Burns wasn’t the sexiest headliner, but MMA fans knew it had the makings of a fun fight. Fortunately, they weren’t disappointed. Burns came out on fire, rattling the defending champion with a series of punches. Usman knocked him to his back out of defense and instead of rushing back to his feet to capitalize on a still hurt Usman, Burns tried enticing Usman to jump into his guard. Big
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Kamaru Usman retained the welterweight title with a third-round TKO of Gilbert Burns in the main event of UFC 258 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Here are five takeaways from the event.
An untouchable champion?
OK, Usman might not be literally untouchable. Burns did rock him early in the fight with some of the biggest shots Usman has absorbed in his UFC career.
But in terms of actually beating him? Good luck with that.
Usman widened the gap between himself and the rest of the division even further by defeating Burns in one of his most impressive performances to date. The Nigerian Nightmare showed off some new tools in the form of kicks, and his jab looked better than ever. He also proved he can take a punch and keep going.
Official UFC 258 post-fight bonus winners last night (Sat. Feb. 13, 2021) live on ESPN+ PPV from Las Vegas, including Anthony Hernandez’s unlikely submission over BJJ great Rodolfo Vieira.