Some fans may have felt that the UFC 261 main event should have been Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington. Fair enough. Covington bounced back from a loss to Usman with a dominant win; Jorge Masvidal had not fought since their first meeting. But the champ gets what the champ wants, and so we got Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal II on Saturday.
The championship mentality of Kamaru Usman has been “Leave No Doubt,” and to win the first outing against a short-notice Masvidal left the door open for critics to speculate about the what-if question: If Masvidal had a whole fight camp, could he have been the one to dethrone Usman?
Well, Kamaru Usman had the chance to answer those questions at UFC 261 and leave no doubt that it was and will always be his welterweight throne. No matter if his opponent has an entire fight camp or takes a fight with him on short notice.
For Masvidal, his journey through ups and downs in his career has culminated in UFC 261. Jorge gained a ton of respect by stepping in on short notice to save the UFC 251 main event against Usman the first time. That helped earn Gamebred another shot at the welterweight king at UFC 261.
In the end, the second fight ended much differently than the first. But not due to Masvidal having a full camp. Kamaru Usman continues to be the welterweight division’s nightmare, with clearly improved striking. As demonstrated by his second round knockout of Jorge Masvidal. A spectacular ending to UFC 261!
PROS GIVE THEIR TAKE
Check out the pros’ reactions to the UFC 261 main event rematch between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal in front of a packed Jacksonville, FL crowd.
Marty looked like trash, but it’s not like you have to be any good to beat @GamebredFighter. What’s that now 20 losses? Backstabbing bum. #ufc261
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) April 25, 2021
Let's go!!! #UFC261
— Adrian Yanez (@yanezmma) April 25, 2021
😳
— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) April 25, 2021
We just saw a BAPTISM NIGHTMARE!!!! #UFC261
— Mike Trizano (@TheLoneWolfMMA) April 25, 2021
— Lauren Murphy (@LaurenMurphyMMA) April 25, 2021
3 title fights. 3 finishes. What a card #UFC261
— Kay Hansen (@KayHansenMMA) April 25, 2021
I’m exhausted, the fighters showed out for the crowd. Insane fight card!!! #UFC261
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 25, 2021
The JAB set up everything! #usman
— Dan “50k” Ige (@Dynamitedan808) April 25, 2021
WOW!!! #UFC261
— The Golden Boy (@edmenshahbazyan) April 25, 2021
Awesome night #UFC261
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) April 25, 2021
Francis: “ I told him to do that”
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 25, 2021
Congratulations to the champion @USMAN84kg with no doubt one of if not the best pound for pound fighter in the world! Good job! 👏🏾👏🏾 #ufc261
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) April 25, 2021
Wow! If you didn’t respect him before you better now. And of course Masvidal always humble in defeat! 🙏🏽#UFC261
— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) April 25, 2021
Talk about a picture perfect right hand! #UFC261
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) April 25, 2021
Those are going to be cool pics with all that sweat flying #UFC261
— Niko Price (@Nikohybridprice) April 25, 2021
Wow @USMAN84kg just keeps getting better and better! Scary stuff!!! #UFC261
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) April 25, 2021
Bringing all the titles back to Colorado!! @USMAN84kg @rosenamajunas #UFC261 @ufc
— Raquel Pennington (@RockyPMMA) April 25, 2021
Greatest Welterweight of ALL TIME!! Jesus!! That right hand was a missile!! #UFC261
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 25, 2021
THE NIGERIAN NIGHTMARE!!! 😲😲 #UFC261
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) April 25, 2021
