Kamaru Usman has defeated Jorge Masvidal to retain the UFC welterweight title as Gamebred stepped in to fight Usman on six days’ notice at UFC 251. However, Usman dominated and earned a 50-45, 50-45, 49-46 points victory while Alex Volkanovski retained the featherweight title against Max Holloway and Petr Yan become bantamweight champion, beating Jose Aldo.
Despite the trash talk and division among fans as to who would emerge victorious, Usman put in a dominant performance, demonstrating his wrestling and grappling prowess over fan-favourite Masvidal, Dailymail UK reports.
It wasn’t the spectacle that most were expecting, but it was a statement performance by Usman to the rest of the division, as the Nigerian Nightmare equaled Georges St. Pierre’s record of 12 straight wins at welterweight. Bouts against Gilbert Burns and Britain’s Leon Edwards are on the horizon for the champion.
‘Gamebred 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’s 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 didn’t quit.
I knew Jorge is tough, I’ve 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’m just levels better. I have more tools in the toolbox and when I need to I can pull them out and use them.’
Despite falling short at the final hurdle, Masvidal has done his reputation no harm, having put to one side his dispute with the UFC to save the headline act. A rematch with Nate Diaz seems the likely next move for the fan-favourite, who is eyeing an opportunity to have another shot at Usman’s thrown.
