A blockbuster welterweight championship rematch has become official.
Usman weighed 169.5 lbs, and Masvidal struck the mark at 170.
Usman will shield his UFC welterweight title against Masvidal at the primary event of UFC 261 on Saturday at Jacksonville, Florida. The card is going to be the first that the UFC has held using a capacity audience because prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. ESPN has Usman rated No. 2 in the world on its own pound-for-pound MMA fighters listing.
However, Masvidal came to that struggle on just six days’ notice after Usman’s first competitor, Gilbert Burns, tested positive for the coronavirus. Usman, 33, is searching for his fourth consecutive title defense along with his 14th directly UFC success.
In case Usman, a Nigeria indigenous who trains in Colorado, were to triumph Saturday, he’d be in sole possession of second place concerning the greatest winning streaks in UFC history. Usman is now tied to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jon Jones with 13 straight victories. Just Anderson Silva has significantly more successive wins in UFC history (16).
Masvidal (35-14) is among the most well-known fighters around the UFC roster. The Miami native was around a three-fight winning streak before falling to Usman this past year. In 2019, Masvidal ceased Darren Until , Ben Askren and Nate Diaz at a period of eight weeks to become one of the most popular MMA athletes on earth. Regardless of the reduction to Usman, he has not slowed down considerably. Masvidal, 36, was a professional fighter for nearly 18 decades but has only hit his stride lately.
There’ll be two other title fights at UFC 261, and each of four opponents successfully created weight Friday.
Zhang (21-1), the UFC’s initial Chinese-born winner, weighed at 114.5 pounds and hasn’t lost because her pro debut in 2013. Namajunas (9-4) hit exactly the exact same number, and it has won four of the last five conflicts. ESPN has Zhang rated No. 4 on its own women’s pound-for-pound record and Namajunas in No. 5.
The two flyweight title contenders weighed in at 124.5 lbs.
