Kamaru Usman wasn’t expected to win. He certainly wasn’t expected to dominate Tyron Woodley. He did both at UFC 235. Here’s what the pros thought.
For once, Tyron Woodley was the favorite heading into a title fight. Maybe he shouldn’t have been. The favorite was upset Saturday at UFC 235. Not just upset, dominated. Kamaru Usman, a.k.a. ‘The Nigerian Nightmare,’ took him to school. He took him down early and often. Softened him up with blows to the body. And ultimately, walked away with the title.
Rarely do you see a reigning champion in the UFC lose with multiple scores of 50-44. Yet that was the case at UFC 235. Not a single judge gave Tryon Woodley a round. Near the end of the fourth, in his best moment of the fight, Woodley unleashed a barrage of strikes. The problem, Usman answered back. Landed more. Rocked the champion.
Now, the wrestler Ben Askren has been calling ‘Marty from Nebraska’ is ‘Marty with the title.’ Whether it’s Colby Covington, or Askren himself, next, remains to be seen. But while few chose Usman to win at UFC 235, even fewer expected that level of dominance. That’s something Kamaru Usman can revel in.
See how the pros reacted to Usman winning the welterweight title below.
Nobody believed me that usman would win
— Jarred Brooks (@The_monkeygod) March 3, 2019
All respect to kamaru
— Mike "Biggie" Rhodes (@TeamRocBiggie) March 3, 2019
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽👊🏽 #UFC235 https://t.co/gIIrbaBHuU
— Marion Reneau (@BelizeanBruiser) March 3, 2019
I am very impressed @USMAN84kg , my congratulations.
Аlso congratulations @zabeast_mma Zabit and Usman is another level in mma.— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) March 3, 2019
Daddy did it!
"Daddy did it!" @USMAN84kg #UFC235 pic.twitter.com/mPhowMXiDs
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 3, 2019
Damnt ! Kamaru just got my teary eyed with that speech about his daughter
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) March 3, 2019
Ughhh right in the feels 😭😭😭 #UFC235 https://t.co/53nW59OFJL
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) March 3, 2019
Congrats @USMAN84kg on your title and @TWooodley for being on the throne for so many days. Great fight! #UFC235
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) March 3, 2019
The most boring dominant fight ever
— Rashad Coulter UFC (@rashad_coulter) March 3, 2019
The reffing was baffling
Wish Mark Goddard knew anything about wrestling
— Eryk Anders (@erykanders) March 3, 2019
We know, we just had to!
Welp, that was a great night of fights! Exhilarating. Congratulations, Usman!!! Good night, everybody. #UFC235
— Jon Jones (@jonjones) March 3, 2019
Colby Showed Up
To be the People’s champ actually means the people like you.. douche bag 🙄
— Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) March 3, 2019
How ridiculous is Covington 🤦♂️
— Nordine Taleb (@TNT83MMA) March 3, 2019
Dominance
Many more to come 😎🔥💙 https://t.co/6gN3KoCb5Y
— Nasrat Haqparast (@Nasrat_mma) March 3, 2019
