UFC PPV Events Season 26 Episode 16 UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2
- April 24, 2021
UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2 is a highly anticipated event in the mixed martial arts world. This pay-per-view event features three championship fights, including the highly anticipated rematch between welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and popular contender Jorge Masvidal. The two fighters first met in July 2020, with Usman winning a unanimous decision after dominating Masvidal with his wrestling. Masvidal has since been vocal about wanting a rematch and his opportunity has finally come.
In addition to the welterweight title fight, women's strawweight champion Zhang Weili defends her title against former champion Rose Namajunas, and women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko takes on challenger Jessica Andrade. These three championship fights promise an exciting night of elite mixed martial arts competition.
Fans are eager to see if Usman can repeat his dominant performance against Masvidal or if Masvidal will be able to find a way to thwart Usman's wrestling and score a knockout victory. Both fighters are known for their striking ability and this rematch promises to be a thrilling stand-up battle.
The co-main event between Zhang Weili and Rose Namajunas is a clash of two highly skilled strikers with powerful knockout ability. Weili has been on a tear since winning the strawweight title in August 2019, defending it once with a thrilling TKO victory over former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Namajunas is a former champion in her own right and is known for her precise striking and unorthodox footwork.
The fight between Valentina Shevchenko and Jessica Andrade is expected to be a showcase of the top-level technical skills displayed by these two elite fighters. Shevchenko is widely regarded as one of the best female fighters in the sport, with dominant performance after dominant performance in her career. Andrade is a former strawweight champion who has moved up to flyweight in pursuit of a second championship. Fans are excited to see if Andrade can use her physical strength to overpower Shevchenko or if Shevchenko's technical striking and grappling ability will be too much for her to handle.
The event takes place at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, with a limited capacity crowd in attendance due to COVID-19 safety protocols. The UFC has been one of the only major sports organizations to hold events throughout the pandemic, with strict safety measures in place to keep fighters and staff safe.
Overall, UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2 promises to be an exciting night of high-level mixed martial arts competition, with three championship fights and some of the best fighters in the sport showcasing their skills. UFC fans won't want to miss this epic event.