It was billed as a potential real life Rocky Balboa story, but Kamaru Usman left fans and pundits with little doubt as to who is at the summit of the welterweight division after a resounding display over Jorge Masvidal to retain his crown title at UFC 251.
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.
The challenger, coming into the fight on just six days’ notice, enjoyed a fast start in the opening round at Yas Island – otherwise known as Fight Island – displaying the electric pace and dangerous striking threat that has felled Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz.
Usman looked to get the challenger to the floor from the outset, taking Masvidal to the canvas in the opening minutes of the welterweight clash after catching a leg kick. But Gamebred rode out the danger and enjoyed success, landing strikes from the bottom.
However, the 33-year-old champion, who had the advantage of a full training camp, used his superior conditioning to his advantage, wearing Masvidal down with elite grappling against the cage, combining shoulder strikes and foot stamps to frustrate Gamebred.
Round four was more of the same for Usman, who was able to wrestle and control Masvidal with relative ease, despite the challenger’s best efforts in looking to evade his rival with elbow strikes in the clinch.
The final round saw Usman look for a decisive finish, and at one point looked to have secured mount position. But Masvidal exploded away and was back up to his feet for the final 25 seconds of the fight in which he threw the kitchen sink at Usman but was unable to land that all-important knockout blow.
The judges scorecards returned a comprehensive verdict, with two awarding all five rounds in Usman’s favour, while one gave it 49-46 to the champion.
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.
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