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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight elites Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal will clash TONIGHT (July 11, 2020) at UFC 251 from “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
It cannot be overstated just how impressive and dominant Usman has been inside the Octagon. Outside of his competitive bout with Covington — a fight which he won via stoppage, lest we forget — Usman has simply proven multiple levels above each of his opponents. The 33-year-old Nigerian has lived up to his “Nightmare” moniker, terrorizing foes in grueling fights. Masvidal has never gone on a win streak quite like Usman, but at least part of that can be attributed in facing great fighters with a real consistency since 2005. Just as it seemed like a “Gamebred” title run would never materialize, Masvidal started shredding opponents in 2019, earning his status as BMF and “Fight of the Year.”
Let’s take a closer look at the keys to victory for each man:
Kamaru Usman
Record: 16-1
Key Wins: Tyron Woodley (UFC 235), Colby Covington (UFC 245), Demian Maia (UFC Fight Night 129), Rafael dos Anjos (TUF 28 Finale), Leon Edwards (UFC on FOX 17), Sean Strickland (UFC 210)
Key Losses: None
Keys to Victory: Usman is a physical monster. His strength is a huge advantage, but his conditioning is perhaps even more important, as Usman pushes a ridiculously grueling pace that few can hope to match. When you add in an excellent wrestling background and dangerous kickboxing, it’s not hard to see why Usman is such a miserable fight.
Against Covington, Usman and “Chaos” reached an unspoken agreement that their beef would be settled via face-punching. While Usman did eventually pull away with the win in the fifth round, Masvidal is not Covington. He is not a wrestler learning to strike — he’s been putting foes away on the feet for ages.
It’s time to revert back to classic Usman tactics: grinding. When Usman grabs an opponent, it’s remarkably difficult for them to break free. Masvidal’s scrambling may be excellent, but it also means he spends time wrestling with his opponent. Every time any past Usman foe has engaged with the champion, they’ve eventually been worn down and put on their back.
Usman will have to be careful both at range and in the clinch, but if he’s consistently searching for the takedown, Masvidal will grow considerably less threatening over time.
Jorge Masvidal
Record: 35-13
Key Wins: Ben Askren (UFC 239), Darren Till (UFC Fight Night 147), Nate Diaz (UFC 244), Donald Cerrone (UFC on FOX 23), James Krause (UFC 178)
Key Losses: Demian Maia (UFC 211), Stephen Thompson (UFC 217), Benson Henderson (UFC Fight Night 79)
Keys to Victory: Masvidal has been one of the most skilled fighters in the game for quite a long time, but this new “Gamebred” incarnation is a straight killer. Masvidal is more explosive and more aggressive, which has really allowed him to capitalize on all his technique and decades of experience.
Against a physically dominating wrestler like Usman, staying off the fence is beyond important; it’s essential. Even if Masvidal successfully denies every takedown, Usman will slow him with pressure on the cage and body shots if he’s able to gain that positioning.
As such, I’d like to see Masvidal the aggressor. Establish that jab early and start ripping into the mid-section whenever possible. Each bite to the body will help diminish that incredible gas tank, and Covington did find good success with his left kick to the legs and midsection — Masvidal should be kicking hard at those targets.
If and when Masvidal’s back does touch the fence, it’s really time to explode. He’s done great work in the past with knees and elbows while against the cage, but Usman’s strength and expertise in the clinch will require every ounce of Masvidal’s experience. Doing damage and breaking away is the name of the game, and doing it quickly before Usman can really wear on him is vital.
Bottom Line
This is a tremendous headliner to a great card.
Usman’s grip on the title appears iron. Fortunately, there are so many excellent contenders at 170 pounds that his defenses still feel risky. Masvidal presents very real threats to Usman, obstacles he’s potentially never faced previously. If Usman can yet again overcome a dangerous foe, it really goes a long way in proving his greatness.
As for Masvidal, this is his chance. After 17 long years of fighting high-caliber opponents and developing his talents, “Gamebred” has finally scored a shot at the UFC title. And while he does have his BMF strap to fall back on in case of the worst, one has to assume that beneath all the hype and money talk, Masvidal would really love to gain official champion status after his long journey.
Remember that 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.
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At UFC 251, Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal will go to war in the main event. Which man will leave as champion?