UFC fans are back again! On Saturday, April 24th, the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena will be hosting UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2 to a sold out crowd in Jacksonville, FL. The main card will be hosting not, one, not two, but THREE championship bouts. With a total of 14 fights on the card, this is going to be a huge event. The arena literally sold out in minutes so unless you’re lucky enough to purchase a resale ticket, your only option is to watch the PPV on ESPN+ (ESPN+ subscription required).
The main card is absolutely stacked starting with UFC Welterweight Champion “The Nigerian Nightmare” Kamaru Usman (18-1-0) taking on for the second time the #4 ranked Welterweight “Gamebred” Jorge Masvidal (35-14-0). Their first match-up occurred at UFC 251 on UFC Fight Island on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Masvidal took the fight on very short notice, but Usman dominated the fight winning by unanimous decision. Both fighters had said they wanted to run it back again and that is finally happening! Usman‘s dominant wrestling skills outclassed Masvidal in the first fight. If Masvidal doesn’t have an answer for the takedown skills of Usman it’s going to be a long night for “Gamebred”. But, if this stays on the feet, Masvidal will need to be at his best to overcome “The Nigerian Nightmare”.
UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion “Magnum” Zhang Weili (21-1-0) will defend her title against #1 ranked Strawweight “Thug” Rose Namajunas (9-4-0). Weili‘s last title defense at UFC 248 was an absolute war and pulled out a split decision win. But, with the pandemic, she hasn’t defended the title in over a year. After winning a split decision war with former Women’s Strawweight Champion Jessica Andrade at UFC 251, Namajunas wants the belt back. And with two aggressive strikers in the ring, this match is sure to have the fans standing on their feet the entire five rounds cheering for more. Both women have phenomenal striking but Weili‘s takedown defense is superb. This has the making to be the Fight of the Night.
UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion “Bullet” Valentina Shevchenko (19-3-0) defends her title against #1 ranked Flyweight “Bate Estaca” Jessica Andrade (21-8-0). Shevchenko has been a dominant force in UFC. After winning the vacant Women’s Flyweight Championship at UFC 231 she’s defended her title successfully four times. With solid striking and a submission game, Shevchenko has been a dominant champion. Enter Jessica Andrade the former Women’s Strawweight Champion. Moving up a weight class, her aggressive striking may finally provide a challenge to Shevchenko and Andrade is more than willing to go to the ground and play the submission game with her jiu-jitsu skills. This will once again be an excellent fight and another potential Fight of the Night.
Rounding out the main card is a stellar Middleweight bout between “Prime Time” Uriah Hall (17-9-0) against former UFC Middleweight Champion “The All-American” Chris Weidman (15-5-0). Ranked #9 Hall is on a three-fight win streak and looking to continue that to move up to become a contender for the Middleweight Championship. Ranked #11 Weidman is returning to Middleweight to show he still has what it takes to be a contender. And finally, #6 ranked Light Heavyweight “Lionheart” Anthony Smith (34-16-0) will take on #13 ranked Light Heavyweight Jim Crute (12-1-0). Smith went 2-2 in his last four fights and needs to show he can still compete with the best. Crute is on a two-fight win streak and won ten straight before taking his first loss. If Crute can beat Smith he will certainly move into the Top Ten of the Light Heavyweight division. But, if Smith can pull off the win, he’ll show he’s still a force and possibly make his way back to another Light Heavyweight title shot.
Don’t miss out on UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2!
Be the first to comment