▪︎ Kamaru Usman continues to redefine greatness in mixed martial arts.
Continuing his pattern of finding different ways to dominate a fight, Usman won this fight with his striking. He knocked out Masvidal (35-15) with a right hand just over a minute into the second round, extending his win streak to 18 in a row. Usman also put to rest a massive threat in Masvidal, and unexpectedly, not with his wrestling.
Usman is running out of challengers. His performance should earn a place atop UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings as the number-one fighter in the world, a distinction that is becoming increasingly difficult to argue.
There were three title fights on the UFC 261 card and one changed hands when Rose Namajunas knocked out strawweight champ Zhang Weili.
All three title fights delivered on this card, and the main event was more than a reminder of Usman’s brilliance. Usman now has the longest win streak (14) in UFC, he is tied for third-most wins in welterweight title fights, and incredibly, he is showing more dominance with each win. Further cementing his legacy by becoming the first fighter to finish Masvidal since 2009, Usman showed at 261 why he is the No. 1 fighter in the world.
For the first time since 2009, Jorge Masvidal got finished in a fight.
Kamaru Usman extended his welterweight title reign, making a convincing claim that he is the pound-for-pound number one ranked fighter in the world. Usman (19-1) knocked out Masvidal (35-15) in the second round with a ferocious right hand, erasing whatever doubts remained he had any peer in the welterweight division.
The win streak for Usman now improves to 18. Known for his world-class wrestling, the win was extra satisfying because he won this bout with his striking. That was the most impressive win of Usman’s career, defeating a legitimate threat in Masvidal. Usman continues to get better with each win, which is remarkable considering he is already the best in the world.
Next up for Usman appears to be a rematch against Colby Covington, but it will also be interesting to see who emerges from the Leon Edwards-Nate Diaz bout in May at UFC 262. But moving past Masvidal is a major moment for Usman. This victory further elevates Usman, who is operating on an entirely different level from the rest of the division.