UFC251 – What you need to know

Alastair Bishop Posted On July 9, 2020

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The fight everyone has been waiting for is happening!

The UFC Fight Island series kicks off with a stacked card of champions and headlines with the highly anticipated welterweight title bout between Kamaru Usman and BMF title holder Jorge Masvidal. With just 6 days’ notice, ‘Gambred’ has been able to gather his team and train for one of the biggest fights of his career. He last took to the Octagon® in November 2019 when he defeated Nate Diaz by KO in the third round and is currently on a three-fight win streak, having also defeated Ben Askren and Darren Till.

His opponent, however, will look to defend his title for the second time in seven months after seeing off his long-time rival Colby Covington at UFC® 245 In December. ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’’s dominance in UFC stretches over five years and 11 straight wins, but in all competitions, he hasn’t been beaten since 2013. It’s the bout many have been waiting for and both will be looking to give everything when they step inside the Octagon in this exciting match up.

Featherweight fired up

The standout bouts keep on coming as the co-main event will see Alexander Volkanovski take on Max Holloway in the featherweight title bout. The two-last met back at UFC® 245 where Volkanovski took the title belt off Holloway and handed him his first featherweight defeat since 2013. Alexander ‘The Great’, who is on an eight-fight win streak in UFC and unbeaten since 2013, is keen to prove that the belt won’t be going back.

Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway, who is known for hitting opponents with overwhelming volume, will also be looking for a chance to show why he belongs in the division. Along with vigorous training the pair have also been busy outside of the arena recently. Holloway is currently one of a few UFC fighters to be made into an action figure and Volkanovski Is set to release a children’s book in the coming weeks.

Who will be crowned Bantamweight champion?

Why have one title bout when you can have three? This enticing UFC Fight Island kick-off event will also see the fate of the bantamweight title decided as Petr Yan faces up against José Aldo. Yan is currently 14-1, 6-0 in the UFC and looking to make his mark In Bantamweight division. The Russian Is known for his power and endurance, he has outstanding clinch throw takedowns which he’ll hope to use to his advantage against the Brazilian.

Aldo Is no stranger to success in title bouts, he previously held the inaugural UFC featherweight title which he successfully defended seven times before he lost It to Conor McGregor. In recent years his form hasn’t been as dominant, and he’ll be hoping he can take control of the bout early on to secure a win over the Russian who Is known to be a slow starter.

Main Card

Kamaru “Nigerian Nightmare” Usman vs. Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal

Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski vs. Max “Blessed” Holloway

Petr “No Mercy” Yan vs. José Aldo

Jessica “Bate Estaca” Andrade vs. Rose “Thug” Namajunas

Amanda Ribas vs. Paige “12 Gauge” Vanzant

Prelims

Volkan “No Time” Oezdemir vs. Jiri Prochazka

Elizeu “Capoeira” Dos Santos vs. Muslin “King of Kung Fu” Salikhov

Makwan “Mr. Finland” Amirkhani vs. Danny “The Hatchet” Henry

Leonardo Santos vs. Roman Bogatov

Early Prelims