UFC 261 is one of the biggest cards of the year, as Kamaru Usman takes on Jorge Masvidal in a highly anticipated rematch. The main event can be seen on ESPN+ via pay-per-view, starting at 10 pm Eastern. The first time these two fought, Usman walked away victorious after controlling the Octagon throughout the match. Masvidal aims for redemption, as this time he has a full camp to help him prepare for the fight. Let's take a look at our Usman Masvidal prediction for the UFC Welterweight championship bout.
Usman is 18-1 in his professional career, winning the last 17 fights in a row. He's one of the most well-rounded fighters in the UFC, as he utilizes an arsenal of moves to give himself the advantage. He excels at listening to his corner and sticking to the game plan. You can expect him to do just that during Saturday night's title bout.
“Gamebred” is a seasoned veteran that began his career participating in backyard brawls on YouTube. Before Masvidal became a professional fighter, you can watch a clip of him taking on the legendary Kimbo Slice in someone's backyard. Since then, Masvidal has been in the UFC for the last nine years. He aims to secure the victory and be the first person to defeat Kamaru Usman since 2013.
Let’s take a look at the opening odds the sportsbooks have on the main event of UFC 261.
UFC 261: Usman – Masvidal Odds
Kamaru Usman (-435)
Jorge Masvidal (+335)
Over 4.5 rounds (-175)
Under 4.5 rounds (+145)
How Kamaru Usman Wins the Fight
“The Nigerian Nightmare” is the clear favorite to win this bout, and for good reason. His fighting style is extremely similar to UFC legend Georges St-Pierre. Usman is brilliant in finding his opponent's weakness and putting fighters in unlikeable positions.
The first time he faced Masvidal, Usman stuck to the game plan and utilized the clinch. Earning points by controlling the Octagon, foot stomps, and shots to the body, Usman walked away with an easy victory. Look for the Welterweight champion to use a similar strategy, as the clinch is one of Masvidal's weak points.
How Jorge Masvidal Wins the Fight
The first time these two squared off, Masvidal took the fight on short notice. He had little to no training for the fight, as his time had to be spent on cutting weight. Now, with a full camp under his belt, Masvidal feels more than confident his second time around, as he feels Usman didn't do much the first time they fought.
The strategy is going to be easy for Masvidal. Stay away from the clinch! His best chances at winning this title fight are to keep his distance and utilize his kickboxing skills. A task much easier said than done, as Usman is relentless with his approach. However, if Masvidal can keep Usman off of him and turn this into a kickboxing match, he has a great chance to stun the Welterweight champion and take home the belt.
Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal Prediction
With two very different game plans heading into this fight, only one is going to walk away victorious (unless of course, it's a draw, but that likely won't happen). Usman is going to maintain a similar strategy that won him the last fight, while Masvidal is going to do everything to prevent it. However, Usman is so talented and well-rounded, it's hard to imagine Masvidal overcomes the relentless attack from the “Nigerian Nightmare.” Look for Usman to repeat his performance the last time these two fought.
UFC 261 PREDICTION: Kamaru Usman wins by Unanimous Decision
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