MMA Preview – Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal 2 at UFC 261
KAMARU USMAN VS JORGE MASVIDAL FACTS
When is UFC 261? Sunday 25th April, 2021 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 261? VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 261? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 261
What channel is UFC 261 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 261? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
KAMARU USMAN VS JORGE MASVIDAL LOWDOWN
Fair play to Kamaru Usman (18-1) for accepting this rematch. He dominated Jorge Masvidal back in July, so he does not have much to gain in beating him again and it comes with great risk. Usman was originally scheduled to fight Gilbert Burns back then but he pulled out late with COVID-19. However, after beating Masvidal, him and Burns eventually met a couple months ago and it was one of Usman’s greatest accomplishments. Burns is a jiu-jitsu champion and regarded as a better striker whereas Usman is regarded as a boring wrestler. Burns did clip him early, but Usman rallied back and puled off a knockout of his own in the third round.
Jorge Masvidal (35-14) gets his rematch and it is fair enough as he stepped up to replace Burns with less than a weeks’ notice. He is always in good shape, but all his efforts went into starving himself to make weight and so the UFC have rewarded him with another opportunity and full training camp.
KAMARU USMAN VS JORGE MASVIDAL PREDICTION
In the first fight, Usman predictably grappled Masvidal for five rounds to secure a decision. He landed five out of 16 takedowns with nearly 17 minutes of control time. Masvidal managed to land 66 significant strikes but he was too depleted to have any answers for Usman’s relentless wrestling.
So, with more time to prepare, will Masvidal be able to defend the takedown? The answer is no but the more pertinent question is with a better weight cut, will he have enough energy to create enough space in the first couple rounds to find the killer blow?
Maybe not, but he will definitely be better prepared and will have more chance this time around and if anybody is going to take a risk in trying to finish a fight, it’s Masvidal. That said, Usman also has more time to prepare specifically for Masvidal and he knows what it feels like to clinch and wrestle with him. He also has more time to prepare for Masvidal’s combinations and potential onslaughts.
That said and considering the odds, Masvidal has more chance of landing a knockout in the rematch, so he is worth a punt, but we expect Usman to complete the same mission. It will no doubt be harder for him, but he has the ability to drain Masvidal again.
Prediction: Usman via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Value Bet: Masvidal via KO/TKO
