UFC 261: USMAN VS. MASVIDAL 2

[The Oracle]

• Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal TITLE FIGHT
• Zhang Weili vs. Rose Namajunas TITLE FIGHT
• Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Andrade TITLE FIGHT
• Uriah Hall vs. Chris Weidman
• Anthony Smith vs. Jim Crute

Three titles on the line tonight.

I'm expecting a much better tilt this time around from Usman/Masvidal. Jorge only had a week to prepare, if you want to call it that , the first time around. But I'm convinced Usman is unstoppable in this weight class. He's really that good.

I'm a huge Rose fan. Followed her career and development as a fighter from almost the beginning. Would love to see her pull an upset here. However Zhang is like a machine. I don't see any glaring weaknesses. She tends to get stronger as the fight progresses. Just don't see how Rose does it but will be pulling for her hard. I think she will fade from the constant pressure in the championship rounds. But having super coach Trevor Wittman in her corner is immense, This is the true main event.

Andrade is as tough as they come but Valentina is on a different level. This should be just target practice for Shevchenko. Jessica will have to find a way to get her to the mat to be successful. Not an easy chore though. Valentina should cruise here.

Have a feeling this is going to be Weidman's retirement fight. His chin is shot at this point and Hall can really hit. Chris still believes in himself but not many others do. This is not going the distance.

Anthony Smith just isn't a top tier fighter and I expect Crute is going to expose that. I suspect another short fight here.

On a side not this event is being held in front of a full audience of 15k in Jacksonville Florida. Ron DeSantis the governor of the state was at the press conference and will be attending the show. I hate it when sports events are politicized and this just reeks of it.

 

[Sonic Temple]

Great recap @The Oracle - totally agree with the outcomes. I would like to see Weidman win though - just because I like him LOL. Don't see it happening though.

 

[Charlemagne]

Usman may be better than GSP as a welterweight champ.

 

[The Oracle]

Usman may be better than GSP as a welterweight champ.

Different era's.....He's fighting a higher level of competition that's for sure.

 

[Sonic Temple]

Amazing card tonight - one of the better ones we have had for a long time. Nice to Rose win it and the Nightmare (that guy is a beast).

 

[tkodude]

Great card indeed. Still reeling from that leg break though.

 

[The Oracle]

Amazing card tonight - one of the better ones we have had for a long time. Nice to Rose win it and the Nightmare (that guy is a beast).

Thug Rose......Thug Rose!!........Man I jumped right out of my chair when Zhang hit the canvas.....I really like her and Pat and their approach to her training and development as a fighter. She beat a specimen in there tonight with a technically perfect kick.

Usman/ Covington 2 is going to be a great fight. They both have improved so mush since the last one. I'm glad Colby has dropped the MAGA schtick. I always hated that. As a fighter Colby actually is really good but Kamaru has just got that extra power in his hands which is a game changer.

Jimmy Crute is one tough SOB man. He was game to go out there on one leg after that injury.

Weidman well I just don't see how he comes back from that. That was devastating to watch. Hall showed a lot of class with his comments afterwards.

 

[tkodude]

Lol. Same reaction here. Jumped off the couch with my hands up, when Rose planted the head kick. Didn't appear that powerful and for a second there I froze, thinking Weili was going to regain her senses but Rose did a fine job of sealing the victory with hammer fists. Her form and game plan were on point today. Very focused. I have been rooting for her since the Invicta days.

Usman/Covington 2 is going to be a good fight and honestly can go either way. Masvidal should stop the taunting and clowning at this level of competition. That was a title fight FFS! Usman was gassing a bit in first and if Masvidal kept the distance while tapping the lead leg, he easily could've kept going for 4 more rounds and wear him out.

Shevchenko steamrolled through Andrade without breaking a sweat. As expected. She's just too good and too well rounded for anyone in that division. Perhaps she should be the one slapping Jake Paul into oblivion?

And Weidman... man, I felt that... I really did. Almost happened to me while sparring 5 years ago. Luckily, I was wearing shin guards and only had a fracture but this definitely left a mental scar. I don't see him coming back. Anderson was never the same after their fight and he was in his prime then. Weidman is done. Hopefully he'll recover without any issues but that leg folded and I believe it was an open wound.

 

[tkodude]

Usman may be better than GSP as a welterweight champ.

GSP never had the power Usman has.

 

[The Oracle]

GSP never had the power Usman has.

That's a interesting comment because after the first Serra fight he pretty much just relied on his takedowns. His standing and trading days were over.

I always thought he had a great jab that's for sure. koscheck found that out the hard way with a broken orbital bone.

I thought his punching showed great improvement when he knocked Bisping down at 85.

Freddie Roach always praised his work ethic and dedication.

But yeah Usman seems to be the next level.

 

[tkodude]

He mauled Penn after Serra too and no doubt his striking was good (especially the jab as you pointed out), comparing to wrestlers, such as Shields and Askren for example, but Usman hits much, much harder. His straight right today was a beauty.

 

[The Oracle]

He mauled Penn after Serra too and no doubt his striking was good (especially the jab as you pointed out), comparing to wrestlers, such as Shields and Askren for example, but Usman hits much, much harder. His straight right today was a beauty.

When he left Sanford MMA to train at ONX Sports in Colorado with Trevor Wittman his striking got progressively better after each fight I thought.

 

[The Oracle]

Daniel Cormier confronts Jake Paul in crowd at UFC 261

So Paul did call Cormier out this week. Guess Daniel isn't having any part of him or is he setting up a big pay day...........

 

[wazup]

I thought masvidal won the first, certainly not the second though. Nice to see the Chinese fighter get kicked in the head, we all needed to see that. Odd that weidmsn broke his leg in the same fashion it happened to silva against him.

Gsp was counted out a lot but always won, in the steroids era too.

 

[tkodude]

When he left Sanford MMA to train at ONX Sports in Colorado with Trevor Wittman his striking got progressively better after each fight I thought.

True and I am not discrediting GSP's striking abilities by any means, but in the context, I consider Usman a much more dangerous fighter with a one punch KO power, hence my original comment. He (Usman), undoubtedly, presents a serious problem to anyone in WW division. Plus he is still evolving.

P.S. If I recall correctly, ONX is a newer gym and GSP trained at Grudge. I may be mistaken. After all, he was a striker to begin with, but quickly became one of the best takedown artists in MMA.

 

[whynot888]

Great card indeed. Still reeling from that leg break though.

Yea, not going to lie, i fucking cringed when i saw that.

 

[Sonic Temple]

I want to see more Kamaru, man that guy was amazing. I think I woke up the entire neighborhood when he landed and sent Jorge straight to the floor. Amazing.

 

[Ssuper]

Summed up perfectly. Wasn't able to watch live, so just finished watching them all today.

What a great bunch of fights. I was expecting the Usman/Masvidal do go longer, and think Jorge should have stuck to working leg kicks, and keeping distance.
Sticking out your tongue and getting cocky made for an early night.

I like Covington the fighter, and think he can push Usman better. Colby has great cardio, and should try and avoid a slugfest. Use kicks, and try to get Usman to the ground.
But Usman is so tough, and well rounded, it will be so hard for anyone to beat him.

It was also so nice to see live fans, screaming and cheering.

 

[Ssuper]

The fans, the fighters and the fights where all fantastic. Fun to watch.

I like Colby but he had his chance. I think Usman should face Wonderboy Next. I think that the fight to make.

 

[xmontrealer]

Amazing night, but a bit horrifying with the leg damage.

Have to admit I felt a bit jealous seeing the venue packed with fight fans, mostly maskless, there in Jacksonville, Fla. Shows to go what a good supply of vaccine, and a little foolishness on the part of some, can do...