The reigning and defending welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman delivered a picture-perfect knockout to finish Jorge Masvidal in the second round of their rematch in the UFC 261 main event, to cap off an action-packed night of fights from Jacksonville, Florida. Addressing the raucous audience at the VyStar Arena as the UFC welcomed a sold-out crowd for the first time in over a year, Kamaru yells “Jacksonville, Florida, y’all said you wanted violence. You’re welcome”!
Prior to the knockout, the first big shot of the fight was landed by Kamaru after he connected with a hard right hand that tagged Masvidal on the jaw. As the second round got started, Usman was a little more wild on the feet but he still kept Masvidal honest with his strike as the crafty veteran kept waiting for an opening to return fire. That time never came because Usman unleashed the right hand that put Masvidal’s head on a swivel as he crashed to the canvas and there was almost an audible gasp from the fans in attendance as the fight came to a dramatic end in just one minute and two seconds into the second round.
Following the win, the undefeated champion first celebrates with his family, speaks with commentator Joe Rogan and had nothing but praise for Masvidal for bringing the absolute best out of him on Saturday night. ”Thank you to my man, Jorge. You elevated me, it’s been a while since I’ve been extremely nervous for fights. He elevated me, made me go to the workshop. I had to sharpen all my tools. I had to come out here and put on a performance like that. I told everybody I’m still getting better. The sky’s the limit for me as long as I’m doing this. At this point, the champion shouts, ‘‘I know with my fundamentals I am the pound-for-pound best fighter on the planet right now.”
As for Masvidal, it was the second time in his career that he’s ever been finished with strikes and he paid homage to Kamaru Usman for a job well done after falling short in his second attempt to become UFC champion. “It hurts, I’ve never been knocked out in 50 pro fights. Usman showed me something he didn’t show me the first fight. I didn’t feel his power and that’s what happens when you’re overconfident. All the props to him in the world. He caught me by surprise. He’s got my number. Nothing I can say, he won this fair and square. God bless him.”
When you talk of martial artists, Kamaru is the absolute truth. Undefeated in the UFC, the Nigerian nightmare has dispatched yet another top-ranked contender as he continues to establish himself as one of the greatest welterweights in the history of the sport, although there’s another ranking he’s seeking to attain now.
