Zane Simon & Eddie Mercado are here to breakdown this Saturday’s, April 24th, ‘UFC 261: USMAN VS. MASVIDAL 2’ event. The guys will have hot takes, possible next fights, as well as reactions to the overall event.
Zane Simon & Eddie Mercado are back tonight, Saturday, April 24th., 2021, to breakdown the ‘UFC 261 – ‘USMAN VS MASVIDAL 2’ event, featuring three title fights, which was broadcast from the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida; with our first live full capacity crowd since the COVID-19 shutdown last year. The guys will have hot takes, possible next fights, as well as reactions to the overall event in the player above, or on our Bloody Elbow Presents YouTube Channel and BE Presents Podcast Network. (SPOILERS…)
Tonight, the UFC showcased a sold out PPV (pay-per-view) event featuring a second Title Fight between Usman and Masvidal. The reigning UFC Welterweight Champion and TUF 21 tournament winner, Kamaru ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ Usman, was entering the bout with a remarkable 18-1 record, on a nineteen-bout win streak, the largest in UFC History, surpassing GSP’s streak! – Having last fought and defeated Gilbert Burns by technical knockout back in February of this year; prior to that, we saw him securely defend his title against ‘Gamebred’ in their first encounter as the headliner at UFC 251. He has successfully, defended the belt four times now, ever since he captured it by dominating Tyron Woodley at UFC 235 in 2019.
Masvidal, still holding the record for the fastest knockout in UFC history at 5 seconds, while currently holding the ‘BMF’ Championship belt, after defeating Nate Diaz for it at UFC 244, was holding an impressive 35-14 record when he entered the octagon tonight – coming off his last loss to Usman; having not competed since that first face off between them at UFC 251. Tonight, the “Baddest Mother F*cker”, was defeated handily a second time around by Usman. This brawl lasted up until 1:02 of round 2, via KO/TKO – Right Cross. Usman kept the belt away from Masvidal yet again – still the undisputed Welterweight Champion of the World – Kamaru Usman!
In the co-main event, we had a brief battle for the Women’s UFC Strawweight Title between Champion Weili ‘Magnum’ Zhang and Top Contender ‘Thug Rose’ Namajunas. Weili was on an unprecedented 21-fight win streak. Weili also holding the distinction of being the first ever Chinese and East Asian champion in UFC history. Despite holding the belt, she was currently the #3 ranked fighter in her division, Rose being ranked #1. Namajunas was coming off a win to Jéssica Andrade, having defeated the likes of Joanna J?drzejczyk, Michelle Waterson, Tecia Torres, Paige VanZant and Angela Hill over the past six years of her career. Rose did not fail to impress us with a shocking and dominant 1:18 first round finish, via KO/TKO, Head Kick.
Also on the card, we had an exciting third title fight for the Women’s UFC Flyweight Championship between the undisputed reigning Champion, Valentina ‘Bullet’ Shevchenko, and her contender, Jéssica ‘Bate Estaca’ Andrade (aka: ‘Pile Driver’). Shevchenko was on a six-fight win streak with a storied 20-3 career record, having become the champion back at UFC 231 after defeating Joanna J?drzejczyk, she holds nine UFC women’s flyweight records outright, and she is tied for the top spot in three more; while Andrade was sporting a 21-8 record (with only two losses since mid-2019 – to Namajunas and Zhang). Andrade holds the distinction of being the only woman in the UFC to win in three different weight divisions (bantamweight, strawweight and flyweight), but it didn’t help her tonight. Shevchenko added to her win streak with another KO/TKO victory, this time with bloody elbows from Crucifix at just 3:19 of Round 2!
These bouts were preceded by a wicked freak injury to Chris Weidman when he threw a devastating leg kick to Uriah Hall (watch the 17-second bout video highlight above at your own discretion, it is vicious & graphic). Prior to that, our featured main card opener – was a short first round bout between Anthony Smith and Jimmy Crute, which also ended in a Dr. Stoppage due to a leg injury; and of course we had eight bouts tonight on our undercard, that are worth discussing as well.
Overall, this thirteen-bout card saw SIX exciting first round finishes, two fantastic submissions, and SEVEN phenomenal KO/TKO’s – including our three title fights, along with four decisions – one split. Rounding things out, bonuses for putting forth POTN efforts went to Rose Namajunas & Kamaru Usman; FOTN honors went to Aori Qileng vs. Jeff Molina. What a night of fights we have to share with you, join us to discuss all the action…
Here’s a look at the UFC 261: ‘USMAN VS MASVIDAL 2’ RESULTS & UPDATED FIGHT RECORDS:
ESPN+ MAIN PPV CARD | SAT. APR. 24
13. UFC Welterweight Championship – Kamaru Usman (19-1) DEF Jorge Masvidal (35-15) – KO/TKO, Right Cross at 1:02 of Rd 2, Total 6:02
12. Women’s UFC Strawweight Championship – Rose Namajunas (10-4) DEF Weili Zhang (21-2) – KO/TKO, Head Kick at 1:18 of Rd 1
11. Women’s UFC Flyweight Championship – Valentina Shevchenko (21-3) DEF Jéssica Andrade (21-9) – KO/TKO, Elbows from Crucifix at 3:19 of Rd 2/5, Total 8:19
10. 185lbs Uriah Hall (17-9) DEF Chris Weidman (15-6) – KO/TKO, BROKEN LEG at 0:17 of Rd 1
9. 205lbs Anthony Smith (35-16) DEF Jimmy Crute (12-2) – KO/TKO, Dr. Stoppage-Leg Injury at 5:00 of Rd 1
ESPN/ESPN+ PRELIMS
8. 170lbs Randy Brown (13-4) DEF Alex Oliveira (22-10) – SUB, One-Arm Rear Naked Choke at 2:50 of Rd 1
7. 170lbs Dwight Grant (11-2) DEF Stefan Sekuli? (12-4) – DEC, SPLIT
6. 185lbs Brendan Allen (16-4) DEF Karl Roberson (9-4) – SUB, Heel Hook at 4:55 of Rd 1
5. 145lbs Pat Sabatini (14-3) DEF Tristan Connelly (14-7) – DEC, Unanimous
ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass EARLY PRELIMS
4. 135lbs Danaa Batgerel (9-2) DEF Kevin Natividad (9-3) – KO/TKO, Counter, Left Hook at 0:50 of Rd 1
3. 155lbs Rodrigo Vargas (12-4) DEF Zhu Rong (17-4) – DEC, Unanimous
2. 125lbs Jeff Molina (9-2) DEF Qileng Aori (18-8) – DEC, Unanimous
1. 115lbs Ariane Carnelossi (13-2) DEF Na Liang (15-5) – KO/TKO to G&P from Guard at 1:28 of Rd 2, Total 6:28
Be sure to follow Zane – @TheZane Simon & Eddie – @EddieMercado; follow @BloodyElbow on twitter for all the latest in MMA happenings. Bloody Elbow Presents is a mixed martial arts podcast network presented to you by Bloody Elbow…
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