Kamaru Usman placed on a ‘Combat Island’ masterclass Sunday to retain his Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight world title by grinding down a courageous Jorge Masvidal in Abu Dhabi. “I am on the high of the mountain and everybody’s me,” declared the 33-year-old Usman after scoring a unanimous factors resolution 50-45, 50-45 and 49-46 on the three judges’ playing cards. The Nigerian-American Usman (17-1) appeared the brisker with Masvidal (35-14) having taken the UFC 251 headline bout at simply six days’ discover when Brazil’s Gilbert Burns (19-Three) examined constructive for COVID-19 and was unable to journey.
The Las Vegas-based UFC pulled off a power-packed schedule with three world title fights to kick off a collection of combined martial arts playing cards.
It helped fulfil supremo Dana White’s imaginative and prescient of a coronavirus-free ‘Combat Island’, one thing he first floated when the pandemic brought on a global shutdown of sport in March.
UFC has decamped to Abu Dhabi’s locked down Yas Island within the United Arab Emirates till the top of July to isolate fighters from the specter of the COVID-19 and make sure the reveals roll on.
Strict protocols imply athletes and workers are examined twice earlier than leaving for the UAE, and twice once more on arrival, earlier than spending 48 hours in quarantine — measures that caught out Usman’s authentic opponent Burns (19-Three).
Usman by no means gave the 35-year-old substitute Masvidal the area to land the mixtures for which he’s famous, and he monstered Cuban-American when the motion hit the cage, and the canvas.
“Gamebred (Masvidal) is the largest, baddest dude on the market proper now and I needed to take him,” stated Usman.
“I do know quite a lot of noise was made about him making ready on quick discover however all these guys are making ready for one man and that is me.
“I am simply at a stage higher. I’ve extra instruments within the software field and after I must I can pull them out and use them.”
The pair had exchanged heated phrases through social media within the lead-up to the occasion -– Masvidal claiming his opponent had “crossed traces” – and so they had been chipping away at one another in between rounds.
However there have been smiles on the finish when the judges dominated overwhelmingly in favour of Usman with Masvidal, who was with out his coach Mike Brown who had additionally examined constructive for COVID-19, applauding his opponent.
Usman’s 12-Zero UFC welterweight document is equalled solely by future Corridor of Famer Georges St-Pierre (26-2).
The headline struggle and the 2 different title fights delivered on the hype that had been constructed across the “Combat Island” showpiece.
Australian featherweight world champion Alexander Volkanovski (22-1) edged the tightest of break up choices 48-47, 47-48, 48-47 in an exciting rematch towards former champion from Hawaii, Max Holloway (21-6).
Brazil’s former three-time world champion Jose Aldo (28-7) was stopped within the fifth by relentless Russian Petr Yan (15-1) who claimed the vacant bantamweight crown.
The 27-year-old Yan rained in blows on his 33-year-old opponent for 3 minutes earlier than the referee stepped in to save lots of the veteran.
“Aldo is a legend. I’ve solely respect for him,” stated Yan. “It was a superb knockout. I appreciated it.”
Earlier than these title fights got here a brutal ladies’s strawweight rematch between America’s Rose Namajunas (10-Four) and the Brazilian Jessica Andrade (20-Eight).
Andrade had stripped the title from Namajunas in Might 2019 by pile-driving her to the canvas for a knockout.
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This time the pair traded blows earlier than the 28-year-old Namajunas, her face bloodied, edged a break up resolution 28-29, 29-28, 29-28.
The 38-year-old Namajunas will now seemingly get a world title shot towards champion Zhang Weili (21-1) from China, who took the title from Andrade 11 months in the past.
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