Nigerian Kamaru Usman has on Sunday defeated Jorge ‘Gamebred’ Masvidal in a keenly contested fight to retain his title as the undisputed welterweight champion at UFC 251 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Usman known as ‘the Nigerian Nightmare’ won the first two rounds but Masvidal took the third, scoring points 50-45, 50-45 and 49-46 on the three judges’ cards.
In the end, all judges unanimously gave the fight to Usman, who has remained undefeated in the category.
The fight between Usman, 33, and Masvidal, 35, was arranged only few days ago after Usman’s original opponent, Gilbert Burns, tested positive for the coronavirus and pulled out from the bout.
After the fight, the undefeated champion Usman said;
Gamebred (Masvidal) is the biggest, baddest dude out there right now, so I had to switch gears preparing for him on six days notice. All these guys are preparing for one guy and that is me, at the top of the mountain. I trained for Gilbert, I had a different game plan. Gamebred is tough, he landed some elbows from the bottom and he did not quit.
He added;
I knew Jorge is tough, I have always said it minus all the trash talking and all the things going on, Jorge is a tough guy and I give him credit for that. I am just levels better. I have more tools in the toolbox and when I need to, I can pull them out and use them.
With the victory, Kamaru Usman now has 17 wins and just one loss while Masvidal’s defeats rose to 14 with 35 wins.
See some photos from the bout below;
