Nigeria-born professional mixed martial artist, Kamaru Usman has defended his UFC welterweight title at UFC 261 after defeating Jorge Masvidal for a second time.
Usman accomplished both by making an emphatic statement Saturday night, scoring perhaps the most vicious knockout of 2021, when he starched Masvidal with a right hand to KO him out cold at the point of impact.
The fight staged at the Vystar veterans memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida saw Usman winning the 1:02 mark of the second round to retain his welterweight title.
“I told everybody, I’m still getting better. The sky’s the limit for me as long as I’m doing this,” Usman said. “I know with my fundamentals, I am the pound-for-pound best fighter on the planet right now.”
After trading shots, @USMAN84kg scored the early takedown 😬 #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/GcRH7HZlvB
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 25, 2021
Masvidal had remained defiant in that loss, insisting that he wasn’t well prepared, having only accepted the challenge on a six-day notice after Gilbert Burns, Usman’s original opponent, pulled out after he tested positive for COVID-19.
He, however, praised Masvidal for the challenge he posed.
“It hurts,” Masvidal admitted. “I’ve never been knocked out in 50 pro fights. Usman showed me something that he didn’t show the first fight. That’s what happens when you get overconfident. He’s got my number, man.”
