UFC 261: Kamaru Usman destroys Jorge Masvidal with second round knockout

Brendan Bradford

UFC 261: Kamaru Usman destroys Jorge Masvidal with second round knockout image

Kamaru Usman just flat-lined Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261, defending his welterweight title with a second round knockout win. 

The stoppage was as swift as it was spectacular. 

Usman closed the distance perfectly, feinted with a left and finished Masvidal with one of the most powerful straight right hands the welterweight division has ever seen. 

When he came to, Masvidal didn't know what happened, and needed to ask his corner why the fight was over. 


After a heated build-up to their hugely anticipated rematch, both men were full of respect for one another afterwards. 

"Coach kept yelling at me, saying 'stay with the fundamentals,'" Usman said afterwards. 

"He's been saying that a while. Just keep it simple. 

"I know with my fundamentals, I'm the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world right now."  

A fan favourite, Masvidal made no excuses.

"First time in my career (I've been knocked out) and it's in front of all my people, my friends and family, so it hurts," he said. 

"I've never been knocked out in 54 fights. 

"Usman showed me something he didn't show in the first fight. I didn't feel his power and that's what happens when you get over-confident. 

"I thought we were going to wrestle more. I was ready to wrestle for 25 minutes, so props to him. He caught me by surprise, he's got my number and beat me fair and square."

UFC 261: USMAN VS MASVIDAL - THE FIGHT 

Usman landed the first big shot of the fight, with Masvidal eating a big right hand down the middle. 

Usman stuck his first takedown of the fight after Masvidal threw a flying knee from close range halfway through the first round. 

Masvidal fought his way back to his feet and having weathered the early storm, finished the first round confidently. 

Gamebred opened the second round with leg kicks, and looked relaxed, but that approach came back to bite him. Badly. 

Usman threw two left jabs which Masvidal reacted to. On the third jab he threw in the space of 10 seconds, he followed up with the right. 

The fight was over instantly, but Usman was allowed to land a few more shots on the ground. 


 

Brendan Bradford