It is time for an additional journey to Struggle Island. On Saturday, July 11, Karamu Usman will step into the octagon with Jorge Masvidal for UFC 251: Usman vs. Masvidal.
Masvidal replaces Gilbert Burns for the match, after Burns examined constructive for COVID-19 and was faraway from the evening’s title battle card. Masvidal joins the battle after just some days’ discover, however because the newly-minted BMF champion, who has the support of none apart from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Masvidal clearly hopes to have a shot at Usman’s welterweight championship belt.
In actual fact, Masvidal has been looking forward to taking over Usman for fairly a while and has had no compunction about downplaying Usman’s talents within the ring. Nevertheless, Usman is not underestimating his opponent’s possibilities on Saturday.
On Thursday, Usman told reporters in Abu Dhabi, “He is the very best out of every certainly one of [my previous opponents] … He is the following man in entrance of me. He is the hardest man in entrance of me, so I do not take him flippantly. I am going on the market with all my ideas, the thought that he is the very best opponent that I’ve confronted in the present day, and I’ve to go on the market and deal with him accordingly.” Nevertheless, Usman additionally expressed pleasure concerning the alternative to battle Masvidal, saying, “I can not wait. I believe that is the battle that individuals wished, and it is the battle that individuals are getting.”
We’ll have to attend till Saturday to search out out which of those MMA fighters walks away victorious, however listed below are some need-to-know particulars concerning the occasion, together with the way to watch and which different fights are on the complete card.
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The best way to watch: UFC 251: Usman vs. Masvidal will happen at Struggle Island in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, July 11, with the primary card beginning at 10 p.m. ET. Followers can catch the early preliminaries beginning at 6 p.m. ET, with the preliminaries starting at eight p.m. ET. Audiences can tune in live via ESPN+. Present ESPN+ subscribers can order the fight for $65; new subscribers can get an ESPN+ annual plan plus entry to UFC 251 for $85.
Who else is on the primary card: Karamu Usman and Jorge Masvidal would be the important occasion, representing the welterweight division. The co-main occasion for the night is Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway; the title bout for bantamweight is Petr Yan vs. Jose Aldo; within the ladies’s starweight class are Jessica Andrade and Rose Namajuna; and Amanda Ribas and Paige VanZant will face off within the ladies’s flyweight division.
UFC 251: Usman vs. Masvidal will air exclusively on ESPN+ on Saturday, July 11 at 10 p.m. ET.
Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal