AND STILL
Kamaru Usman beats Jorge Masvidal to retain welterweight title with unanimous decision win at UFC 251 on Fight Island
KAMARU USMAN successfully retained his welterweight title against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251.
The 33-year-old got the decision with all three judges after suffocating Gamebred on Fight Island.
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Masvidal only took the fight on six days notice and it told as he began to look sluggish against Usman.
Usman is now 12-0 in UFC and has stretched his unbeaten run to 16.
The first round saw a flurry of knees by Masvidal but an accidental clash of heads cut open the challenger.
He still looked to take the round but from then on the champ stepped up to take control.
Usman took the second as both fighters stayed on their feet throughout, although Gamebred was cut again after another head clash.
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The gashes above each eye were causing the BMF king trouble and he began to look tired in the third as he lost another round after good clinch work by Usman.
He was not winning many fans with his style, but the Nigerian Nightmare continued to control the fourth, leaving Masvidal needing to go for the finish in the championship round.
But Usman imposed his will and scored a big takedown, firing in the elbows to keep Masvidal on the mat.
He eventually managed to get back to his feet and desperately tried for a finish with a late flurry but Usman evaded the danger to get the unanimous decision.
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Usman said: “Gambred is the biggest, baddest dude out there right now and I had to switch gears to prepare for him on six weeks notice.
“I had to make a mental switch, I prepared for Gilbert I had a completely different gameplay.
“Gambred is tough and he showed it out there.
“I think Jorge is tough. I’ve always said it.
“Jorge is a tough guy and I give him credit for that. I'm just a level better.”
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