Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will be back in action later tonight (Sat., Apr. 24, 2021) to stage UFC 261 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., with a welterweight rematch between UFC champion Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal serving as the main event. This will be the first time UFC is having a sold out crowd since the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020.
Before the welterweight rematch unfolds a collection of UFC 261 PPV and “Prelims” matchups will play out in violent fashion. From a co-main event between reigning UFC women’s strawweight champion Zhang Weili and Rose Namajunas to a women’s flyweight clash pitting current titleholder Valentina Shevchenko against Jessica Andrade, UFC 261 should be able to deliver the goods from start to finish.
We will compile the best of the best below — with all video footage courtesy of UFC and ESPN — and will continue to share the action as it rolls in. Enjoy!
Ariane Carnelossi def. Na Liang via second-round TKO (punches)
HOW SWEET DOES THAT SOUND!? #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/GxxmNC9jk0
— UFC (@ufc) April 24, 2021
OKAY!
We’re wasting NO TIME #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/dqvTjCu0IA
— UFC (@ufc) April 24, 2021
Hammering it on
@AnySorriso gets the TKO in the first bout of the night!
[ We’re LIVE on ESPN2, #ESPNPlus & @UFCFightPass ] pic.twitter.com/6Ht8EQAFfn
— UFC (@ufc) April 24, 2021
Jeffrey Molina def. Aoriqileng via Unanimous Decision
Coming in hot
Aoriqileng is pouring it on in RD 1!
[ We’re LIVE on @UFCFightPass, ESPN2 & #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/OFMtJniggS
— UFC (@ufc) April 24, 2021
Los ánimos están prendidos #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/omJ7zgMmH2
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) April 24, 2021
It’s anyones fight
These guys are going for it in RD 2! #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/ntw3ZDB4Z1
— UFC (@ufc) April 24, 2021
Saved by the BELL @JMolina_125 absolutely rocked Aoriqileng! #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/GD4OZHof0i
— UFC (@ufc) April 24, 2021
Aoriqileng and @jmolina_125 just put on a show!
Stream #UFC261 on ESPN+ ?? https://t.co/11j8ptNbRf pic.twitter.com/bhFrgtXMb2
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 24, 2021
Nothing sweeter than the roar of the crowd #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/26ASAKkUPz
— UFC (@ufc) April 24, 2021
Kazula Vargas def. Rong Zhu via Unanimous Decision
Buenas combinaciones mete Kazula mezlcando de todo #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/VXsD2NTPg0
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) April 24, 2021
OH BABY
[ #UFC261 on @UFCFightPass, ESPN2 & #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/qV2sOJJVbd
— UFC (@ufc) April 24, 2021
RongZhu prueba la mandibula de Kazula #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/VyqWYp58ma
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) April 24, 2021
Danaa Batgerel def. Kevin Natividad via first-round TKO (punches)
OH, WHAT A NIGHT
When Danaa Batgerel finds his shot, IT’S OVER!
[ #UFC261 on @UFCFightPass, ESPN2 & #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/8pm8nBHxDh
— UFC (@ufc) April 24, 2021
Patrick Sabatini def. Tristan Connelly via Unanimous Decision
C’est le retour de Boondock! ?
Le @MMATristan fait son entrée pour la première fois depuis 2019! #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/w1AJkM6uRQ
— UFC Québec (@UFCQuebec) April 25, 2021
Demandante pelea para ambo, muy física #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/beXlWikrvv
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) April 25, 2021
Brendan Allen def. Karl Roberson via first-round submission (heel hook)
THERE’S THE TAP!
@BrendanAllenMMA secures the RD 1 sub!
[ #UFC261 on @ESPN & #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/bGxypI5AOF
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
Dwight Grant def. Stefan Sekulic via Split Decision
Tras sumar victorias consecutivas ante Carlo Pedersoli y Alan Jouban, el único combate de Dwight Grant en 2020 fue una emocionante batalla con Daniel Rodriguez, con más acción en dos minutos y 24 segundos que muchas peleas de 3 asaltos #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/rU3J7z0dev
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) April 25, 2021
Oh my goodness!
RD 2 just hit a whole new level
[ #UFC261 on @ESPN & #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/bIK9i4TpkM
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
Stefan Sekulic did everything he could to finish the fight
Stream #UFC261 on ESPN+ ?? https://t.co/11j8ptNbRf pic.twitter.com/IHt56wdYen
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 25, 2021
Randy Brown def. Alex Oliveira via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
HE ONLY NEEDED ONE ARM @TouchNgo_
Stream #UFC261 on ESPN+ ?? https://t.co/11j8ptNbRf pic.twitter.com/azQV4WvYwo
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 25, 2021
Anthony Smith def. Jimmy Crute via first-round TKO (doctor stoppage)
We missed you all so much
LET’S GET TO WORK.
[ #UFC261 on E+ PPV | https://t.co/yqAnGjWuJz ] pic.twitter.com/Zfq04w9PTz
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
Presentando el Jab de Anthony Smith #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/UfxEVwPckg
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) April 25, 2021
The @lionheartasmith leg kick that did the damage
Stream #UFC261 on ESPN+ ?? https://t.co/11j8ptNbRf pic.twitter.com/U9qJx3XkEf
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 25, 2021
You cannot deny this kid’s toughness #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/4xv8t2xHc3
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
Uriah Hall def. Chris Weidman via first-round TKO (leg injury)
Chasing championship dreams.
@UriahHallMMA believes this is his Prime Time. #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/Fgi87vq76U
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) April 25, 2021
The first fighter in @ufc history to win without a single strike thrown #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/zxyu5XhYu3
— danawhite (@danawhite) April 25, 2021
Valentina Shevchenko def. Jessica Andrade via second-round TKO (punches and elbows)
Is a return to glory coming for the challenger?
[ #UFC261 on E+ PPV | https://t.co/yqAnGjWuJz ] pic.twitter.com/1Iy4BzTGyL
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
It’s time to pay homage #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/xgel9FTpxW
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
For twelve pounds of UFC gold
[ #UFC261 on E+ PPV | https://t.co/yqAnGjWuJz ] pic.twitter.com/Yl8e3nylcm
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
Valentina ataca el cuello con mucho tiempo #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/b7OGLBI4ZW
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) April 25, 2021
She in inevitable
[ #UFC261 on E+ PPV | https://t.co/yqAnGjWuJz ] pic.twitter.com/C3IRTMh0SL
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
BEEN OUR QUEEN.
IS OUR QUEEN.
By the looks of it, ALWAYS WILL BE. #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/O81IhaxSY5
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
On a level all her own!
@BulletValentina | #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/0HgJICY27x
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
Rose Namajunas def. Zhang Weili via first-round knockout (head kick)
Are we in store for an encore?
[ #UFC261 on E+ PPV | https://t.co/yqAnGjWuJz ] pic.twitter.com/4e1fZLfnsU
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
THUG ROSE. #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/pAmMAbyo7Y
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
THUG ROSE! THUG ROSE! THUG ROSE! #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/SMkrGxoxwb
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 25, 2021
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
LIKE BUTTER. #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/Lz9zxTtB62
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
Kamaru Usman def. Jorge Masvidal via second-round knockout (punch)
Gamebred is HERE #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/Wz9diWtguO
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
Kamaru Usman dances to the Octagon #UFC261 | @espnmma pic.twitter.com/6Jq4THyfWs
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 25, 2021
The can only be one king…
And @Usman84kg has no plans on leaving.
[ #UFC261 on E+ PPV | https://t.co/yqAnGjWuJz ] pic.twitter.com/JFkJ5oHxGb
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
NO BACKING DOWN. #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/3jpIWs5ybp
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
After trading shots, @USMAN84kg scored the early takedown #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/GcRH7HZlvB
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 25, 2021
UNDISPUTED. #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/SKKDvO2QMN
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
For complete UFC 261 results and coverage click here.