Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC
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While fight fans are on the edge of their seats for the launch of “Fight Island” later tonight (Sat., July 11, 2020) at UFC 251 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Flash Forum in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, many are more interested to see the main event clash between welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal, who is filling in for Gilbert Burns on just six days notice.
Despite coming together as a result of a failed COVID-19 test, Usman vs. Masvidal is the fight that every fan wanted to see. It has been talked about since Masvidal crushed Nate Diaz back in November to win the “BMF” title and it was close to being booked earlier this year for this same mid-July date. Unfortunately, contract disputes between “Gamebred” and UFC stopped the fight from being finalized. All of that drama has since been cast aside and we will now see Masvidal fight for his first UFC title.
Fight fans all around the world will be tuning in to watch the much-anticipated debut of UFC’s “Fight Island,” but when will Usman and Masvidal’s main event clash actually pop off?
With four other fights taking place on the PPV main card starting at 10:00 p.m. ET, Usman vs. Masvidal is likely to begin sometime around 12:30 a.m. ET (Sunday). The co-main event will showcase a featherweight title rematch between current champion Alexander Volkanovski and former kingpin Max Holloway, while Petr Yan and Jose Aldo lock horns earlier on the card to determine the next UFC bantamweight titleholder. With two other title fights happening before the main event it’s very possible things get backed up.
If things do run late (or even early) Mania will be sure to provide an updated start time for tonight’s Usman vs. Masvidal main event.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 251 fight card this weekend RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN+“Prelims” that are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, then the ESPN portion at 8 p.m. before the PPV main card start time on ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 251: “Usman vs. Masvidal” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.