UFC 251 RESULT: Jorge Masvidal loses to Kamaru Usman on Fight Island, reaction and more
UFC 251 LIVE - Follow along Express Sport's live coverage of Jorge Masvidal vs Kamaru Usman from Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.
UFC 251: Fight Island preview featuring Usman vs Masvidal
UFC 251 LIVE: Usman beats Masvidal
- Masvidal lost to Usman for UFC Welterweight title
- Masvidal stepped in on six days notice after Gilbert Burns tested positive for COVID-19
- Volkanovski BEAT Holloway to retain the UFC Featherweight title
- Petr Yan BEAT Jose Aldo to win UFC Bantamweight title
Jorge Masvidal vs Kamaru Usman for the UFC Welterweight title
Round 1: Great first round! Masvidal races out the blocks and lands some big shots but Usman gets a couple takedowns. A fight of two halves so far. I'd probably give round one to Masvidal.
Round 2: Round 2 for Usman but Masvidal had a nice flurry toward the end of the round. Very close fight. Masvidal is cut from an accidental headbutt. Let's see what round three brings.
Round 3: Another round for Usman probably. Masvidal bought some breathing time after taking a low blow. Usman managed to get a couple takedowns in, however. 2-1 Usman going into round four.
Round 4: Closer round but likely one for Usman. Couple of nice combos from Masvidal but he's looking tired. Usman can keep this pace up all day and he'll probably look for more takedowns in the fifth.
Round 5: More of the same from Usman. Full side control on the floor. Masvidal doesn't have the answers, though he's showing all the heart needed. Usman is on another level, though.
We're minutes away....
Usman vs. Masvidal is coming soon on Fight Island ������
— ESPN (@espn) July 12, 2020
ORDER #UFC251 NOW ➡️ https://t.co/MTsCXlYC1X pic.twitter.com/IpB3l9wpsf
Alexander Volkanovski def Max Holloway SD
Round 1: Big first round for Holloway, who puts Volkanovski down with a head kick towards the end of the round. Holloway looked really relaxed throughout and it's already a different fight to the first.
Round 2: Another round for Holloway! He gets another knockdown near the end of the round with a beautiful uppercut. Volkanovski growing a couple of shiners underneath his eyes too.
Round 3: Another round for Holloway on Fight Island. No knockdown, it was closer, but Holloway proving to be every bit the ex-champion he was. Let's see what Volk can do in the fourth.
Round 4: Even round, possibly in favour of Volkanovski. The Australian continued with the inside leg kicks and pressured Holloway with more aggression. Holloway still looked confident, however.
Round 5: Tame round, and it finishes either 4-1 or 3-2 to Max. Brilliant performance from Holloway, Volkanovski promised to put him away, but he never came close. Judges read the scores out and it's a split decision for Volkanovski, however.
Devastating from Yan!
Petr Yan beats Jose Aldo via TKO to win the undisputed UFC bantamweight title#UFC251 pic.twitter.com/FAOniYs1xT
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 12, 2020
Petr Yan def Jose Aldo 5th round TKO for the UFC Bantamweight title
Round 1: Even round to start things off. Yan hits a huge right hand near the start but Aldo throws his opponent off balance with a leg kick. Yan then lays some ground and pound on Aldo with seconds to go. High-level stuff from both. Let's see what Round 2 brings.
Round 2: Both fighters getting into it now. Aldo perhaps won that one, but Yan remains dangerous. Definitely a body shot in the first round which put Aldo down toward the end. Entertaining fight.
Round 3: Aldo ripping some body shots into Yan. But Yan is relentless and he continues to land at Aldo's head. Yan also connected with a cracking elbow and Aldo looked laboured toward the end of the round.
Round 4: Yan with a brilliant round four. The Russian hit some huge right hands and elbows. Aldo looked tired and out of his depth. Yan will look to go for the finish in the fifth.
Round 5: Yan is brutalising Aldo in the fifth. Aldo is completely bloodied and Yan has beaten him to a pulp. The referee should have stepped in a long time ago. Yan gets the finish.
Yan vs Aldo next!
Yan vs Aldo is up next! #UFC251 #InAbuDhabi @visitabudhabi pic.twitter.com/fflBWFfsGf
— danawhite (@danawhite) July 12, 2020
Rose Namajunas def Jessica Andrade SD
Round 1: Fast-paced start to the fight, Namajunas looks so techincally sound and her footwork really proving to be superior to Andrade's. But the Brazilian remains a danger and she's got some slick head movement to answer Rose's offense.
Round 2: I'd make that 2-0 to Rose. She's looking nice and slick in there still and her corner's loving it. Fiancee Pat Barry yells out 'all day' as Rose finishes the round strongly. You'd think Andrade needs a finish.
Round 3: Hard third round for both fighters! Rose bloodied up and both Rose and Jessica score knockdowns. I'm scoring that one for Namajunas, though. Great fight,
Gamebred looking Game.
Amanda Ribas def Paige VanZant 1st round submission
Round 1: Ribas in control immediately as she takes VanZant down and cuts her open. She then makes her tap with a nasty arm-bar. That's Paige's last fight with the UFC over nice and early.
The #UFC251 PPV broadcast opened with an image honoring Khabib Nurmagomedov's father ������ pic.twitter.com/AZhpEd9oku
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) July 12, 2020
The main card starts NOW!
Our main card is getting ready ������
— UFC (@ufc) July 12, 2020
Don't miss it ➡️ https://t.co/TzJdHj0xTn #UFC251 pic.twitter.com/OtHVBLLG63
Here's that KO...
50 Geeeeeee’s babaaay!#UFC251 ������
— Adam Catterall (@AdamCatterall) July 12, 2020
pic.twitter.com/oRgtNOWWPZ
Volkan Oezdemir vs. Jiri Prochazka
Round 1: An absolute barnstormer of a first round. Prochazka showing Oezdemir all kinds of funny angles, bobbing and weaving, throwing punches from funny angles. Oezdemir looked a little bewildered at times but he also has Prochazka in danger himself. Round 2 should be fun.
Round 2: WOW. Huge KO by Prochazka! Head kick, then a beautiful right hand. What an incredible UFC debut. Brilliant work.
Muslim Salikhov def Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos SD
Round 1: Salikhov looks the much more seasoned fighter in there afterthe first four and a half minutes of action. But then Dos Santos manages to end the round with a flurry by dropping Salikhov.
Round 2: Salikhov looks back in control. Some wild right hands from Dos Santos, who looks anxious as he bounces off his toes. Salikhov looks confident and continues to throw spinning kicks at his opponent.
Round 3: More of an even round and if judges saw one of the first two differently, either could pick up the W here. Salikhov looking a bit laboured while Dos Santos has been quite elusive. Competitive affair.
Makwan Amirkhani def Danny Henry 1st round submission
Round 1: Nice flying knee from Amirkhani in the early exchanges, which he follows up by taking Henry down and attemping an anaconda choke. But Henry is choked out just seconds later. Brilliant finish from Amirkhani.
Leonardo Santos def Roman Bogatov 29-26
Round 1: Santos led the early exchanges but Bogatov snuck an eye-poke in, causing referee Marc Goddard to halt the fight briefly. Bogatov looks to be the aggressor so far but Santos remains dangerous, utilising leg kicks and dealing with the pressure from Bogatov.
Round 2: Santos with a huge round! He hits Bogatov with some vicious right hands before kicking him in the face and following him up on the ground. Santos punches himself out, however, and Bogatov manages to end the round on top of Santos on the ground. Great stuff.
Round 3: We have a groin strike.... little break at the moment for Santos. Bogatov regains the momentum he had in the second round and tries to out-wrestle Santos, who looks like he wanted the end of the fight. Ridiculous end to the bout as Bogatov, a very silly boy, illegally knees Santos and gets two points taken away.
What a run...
This is what @GamebredFighter has done to his last three opponents ������ @espnmma
— ESPN (@espn) July 11, 2020
Stream #UFC251 on ESPN+ ➡️ https://t.co/MTsCXlYC1X pic.twitter.com/Px5aQWFaNI
Here's that faceoff from yesterday...
FOR WELTERWEIGHT GOLD. ������
— UFC (@ufc) July 10, 2020
������������������ @USMAN84kg vs ������ @GamebredFighter
Order now ➡️ https://t.co/bzG8eulB7q #UFC251 pic.twitter.com/VObQcd0mrp
John Anik on Holloway-Volkanovaki 2
“When we sat down with ‘Volko’ during the first Holloway fight, he sort of has this feeling, as a lot of guys do going into their first UFC title fight against a long-reigning champion, that he was going to have to beat Max Holloway twice,” Anik told MMA Fighting.
“I’m not saying that Eugene Bareman and the City Kickboxing guys held back necessarily the first time around, but they knew they were going to have to beat this guy twice.
“I’m fascinated to see what the consensus greatest featherweight of all-time, Max Holloway can do to try and force the issue, and try to make this a different fight.”
The Rock has his say!
"The legend of Jorge Masvidal is very real down in Miami."@TheRock spoke to @MeganOlivi about the origins and recent "awakening" of @GamebredFighter ahead of #UFC251 pic.twitter.com/ncokTuLugV
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 10, 2020
Undercard action
Well how about tonight's undercard?
Let's start with Petr Yanl, who looked so impressive in his win over Urijah Faber last time out. UFC continue to push Jose Aldo, but are we going to see a changing of the guard?
Rose Namajunas will look to avenge her brutal loss to Jessica Andrade in Brazil last year - she looks in peak physical condition at the moment.
Then we have Max Holloway attempting to win back the UFC feathwerweight title from Alexander Volkanovski, who outpointed the Hawaiin with ease back in December.
Some more action from the early prelims...
We should see more of this from Mike tonight...
We love the @Bisping cam! ������ #UFC251 pic.twitter.com/X6dx4AogPg
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2020
That Davey Grant KO aftermath...
Usman's ready...
Mannnn let’s get this Shmoneyy ������������������������ #NigerianNightmare #ufc251 pic.twitter.com/CpVtkiqo7p
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) July 11, 2020
Usman on Masvidal
"He's had his ups and downs," said Usman. "But at this moment, he's the biggest, baddest dude and the next in line.
"I know he'll present a different challenge, so I'll treat him accordingly and discipline him in the appropriate way. That's my job, that's why I'm the champion."
Masvidal on Usman
"I don't have faith in him. There's other guys that I wouldn't have taken on six days."
Dana's ready!
HERE WE GO!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/gUnHGgPk4O
— danawhite (@danawhite) July 11, 2020
Huge KO!
Davey Grant (+141 ML) with a monster TKO in the third round
— Barstool Bets (@barstoolbets) July 11, 2020
pic.twitter.com/NdO23arFzV
Adesanya and Covington predictions
“I’ll go with Usman, that’s my boy,” Adesanya said.
“It’s a tough fight because Jorge is a beast, I’m a fan of his too, but Nigerian power is different, man. I’ve seen him, man – Usman does not quit. I have to go with Usman.”
“Jorge Masvidal is nothing more than a mediocre, middle of the road dude who’s a bum,” Covington said.
“I don’t feel any sympathy for him, he’s gonna get body-bagged. The only way he doesn’t get body-bagged by Marty on Saturday night is if Marty comes down with the ‘rona.
“Also, it’s a better opportunity for him because you know he’s on a week’s notice. So now he’s already got built in excuses after he gets ragdolled by Marty on Saturday night. ‘Oh guys, I only had one week to prepare.'”
Poirier prediction
“Masvidal flew in wrestlers, the best wrestlers in the world,” he said.
“The guy never stopped training. Even when the fight fell through, and they gave it to Burns, it was at the end of training camp, Jorge was still in the gym every day like he had a fight.
“I don’t know if he knew something that we didn’t, but the guy was in training camp the whole time and never stopped.
“I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people with the kind of shape he’s in. His timing is gonna be good. He’s in fight shape, I know that much."
The early prelims have started!
A show this big can only call for one man!
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) July 11, 2020
������ @BruceBuffer officially gets proceedings underway at #UFC251
������️ #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/s1hl9VxOuA
Another look at those measures...
Who do you guys think Devin should bet on?!
Who should I put 10k on tonight? Usman or Masvidal?
— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) July 11, 2020
Masvidal the UFC 4 cover star
I’m not much of a gamer these days but that’s a pretty cool cover. Also what a fortuitous turn of events with Masvidal ending up on the card tonight. pic.twitter.com/QveDQYnNeZ
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 11, 2020
Bisping's thoughts
"He's the better striker, he's faster he's slicker, he's got more experience," he said.
"But when you're on the ground, it doesn't matter how good your striking us.
"You're going to favour Kamaru but there's something about Masvidal, this new Masvidal, this will be tough for Usman."
Both fighters hit 170lbs on the dot...
COVID Measures
It's fair to say getting to Fight Island was a task in itself. Everyone in attendance at tonight's event had to undergo extensive Covid testing, as well as prolonged quarantines.
Fighters were tested four times from last weekend all the way up to tonight - including Usman and Masvidal.
Media members, UFC staff and personnel have had to undergo the same stringent measures.
Dana White has made no secret of the expenses poured out since lockdown started back in March, but the UFC have been the poster boys for the return of sport, despite the criticism they first received.
Where it all goes down tonight...
Behind the scenes on fight night ������
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) July 11, 2020
Make sure you're following us on Instagram as @JohnGoodenUK gives you a closer look at #UFC251 tonight ������ https://t.co/Dx33l2M5G3 pic.twitter.com/Rz9Hqof4tU
Masvidal looks ready...
Jorge Masvidal in the Octagon, staying loose and putting in some visualization, no doubt ������ #UFC251 #UFCFightIsland (via @MoAlHousani) pic.twitter.com/nVnXldLcU1
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) July 11, 2020
Live stream details
If you want to watch tonight's event from the UK - you can catch it all on BT Sport 1.
The undercard gets underway at 1am while the main card starts at 3am. Expect to see Masvidal and Usman in the Octagon around 5am.
If you want to view the Fight Pass Prelims, they get underway from 11.30pm.
Here's the FULL CARD...
Main card - 3am
Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal (UFC welterweight title - main event)
Alexander Volkanovski vs Max Holloway (UFC featherweight title - co-main)
Petr Yan vs Jose Aldo (vacant UFC bantamweight title)
Rose Namajunas vs Jessica Andrade 2 (Women's strawweight)
Paige VanZant lost to Amanda Ribas (Women's flyweight)
Hi there!
So six days ago, this even was Kamaru Usman vs Gilbert Burns - but here we are on fight night and 2019's fighter of the year Jorge Masvidal has the chance to etch his name into the MMA history books.
Masvidal vs Usman looked to be the original plan, but Gamebred wasn't happy with certain financial particulars, so Burns stepped in. The Brazilian tested positive for COVID-19 and in stepped Masvidal.
The BMF Champ came in on six days notice, lost 20lbs and now he can become a UFC champion in his 49th MMA fight. And after stopping Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz last year, he fancies his chances.
Elsewhere on the card, Jose Aldo takes on Petr Yan in an intriguing bantamweight match-up, while Max Holloway attempts to regain his featherweight title against Alexander Volkanovski.
So strap yourselves in, we've got an absolute cracker on our hands.