MMA: an XXL Kamaru Usman beats Jorge Masvidal again in the UFC
Kamaru Usman last year became the first African-born mixed martial artist to win a world title with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and he has since witnessed a generation of fighters from the continent rise in his wake ZUFFA LLC / AFP / File
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
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Kamaru Usman defended for the fourth time in a row his welterweight world champion's belt from the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), the world's most prestigious mixed martial arts (MMA) league, on the night of April 24 to 25, 2021 in Jacksonville (Southeastern United States).
The Nigerian defeated American Jorge Masvidal by KO in UFC 261.
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Kamaru Usman is indeed the welterweigts king of the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), the most prestigious mixed martial arts (MMA) league in the world.
No offense to Jorge Masvidal, one of the superstars of this discipline.
Nine months after a first defeat by unanimous decision, the American this time bowed on a furious punch from the champion, in the second round.
Jorge Masvidal thought he could do better, he who had challenged Kamaru Usman at short notice, in July 2020, replacing the Brazilian Gilbert Burns.
But, in front of a room finally with spectators and yet acquired because, "Gamebred" was dominated like the others, to the great pleasure of Francis Ngannou.
The Cameroonian, heavyweight champion, came to support his African friend.
In the footsteps of Georges Saint-Pierre?
Is Kamaru Usman coming closer to the level of Georges Saint-Pierre, considered one of the best MMA fighters in history and the greatest of all time in the UFC welterweight category?
The Nigerian has already broken the record for consecutive victories for the Canadian in this weight category, with now 14 successes in a row against 12 for "GSP".
“The Nigerian Nightamare” is certainly still far from the number of successful title defenses with 4 against 9 for Saint-Pierre, between 2008 and 2013. But here he is determined to continue fighting.
There is already talk of a rematch against Colby Convington, one of the few opponents to have put him in difficulty since his debut at the UFC in 2015. Then, in 2022, the one who was born in Auchi but who has growing up in the United States may well see one of his dreams come true: representing the UFC in Africa.
Dana White, the league boss, has indicated that an event on that continent could be organized that year.
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