Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is itching for more activity and wants to make the fifth defence of his 170-lb strap at UFC 263, on what would be another stacked card with three title fights, per an ESPN interview with his manager Ali Abdelaziz. While promoter Dana White said a Colby Covington rematch is next, they’re targeting others like Michael Chiesa (#7) instead.
Tag: Gilbert Burns
Kamaru Usman: Jorge Masvidal win left me unsatisfied, why I called for UFC 261 rematch
Ahead of his fourth welterweight title defence this weekend against Jorge Masvidal on a stacked UFC 261 card, Kamaru Usman (18-1 MMA, 13-0 UFC) has vowed to break the #3 divisional contender while saying 170-lb challengers aren’t exciting him – hinting that he may retire if he gets to a point where the landscape doesn’t motivate the same way anymore. Continue reading
Belal Muhammad up next this weekend, Leon Edwards targeting overdue title shot
A year ago this weekend, welterweight contender Leon Edwards (#3) had his highly-anticipated matchup against former champion Tyron Woodley cancelled due to the rapidly-changing COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been 600 days since his last walk to the Octagon but with short-notice opponent Belal Muhammad stepping up, he targets a big return in Saturday’s main event. Continue reading
UFC 258: Kamaru Usman earns R3 TKO vs. Gilbert Burns, retains welterweight title
Kamaru Usman responded emphatically to Gilbert Burns’ rapid start, surpassing George St-Pierre for the longest divisional streak of all-time (13) with the third defence of his welterweight title, blasting his former training partner to pieces in the main event. Before, there were big wins for Kelvin Gastelum and flyweight Alexa Grasso, who excelled during the night’s co-main.
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UFC 258: Gilbert Burns confident, vows to wipe out welterweight division if he wins title
With just two weeks to go before his first title matchup against former training partner Kamaru Usman, Gilbert Burns is confident he’ll be an active UFC welterweight champion – should he win the belt – and has publicly vowed to wipe out each contender rising through the rankings. Continue reading
UFC Fight Island 8: Michael Chiesa confident ahead of Neil Magny main event
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Michael Chiesa (17-4, #8) is hoping to produce a statement display Wednesday against #9 ranked welterweight Neil Magny (24-7), as he makes his Octagon return after undergoing knee surgery last July to repair a troublesome issue that had bothered him since his teenage years. Continue reading
UFC Vegas 17: Leon Edwards vs Khamzat Chimaev to be rescheduled for 2021
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Leon Edwards’ 2020 has been dismal and his bad luck continues after being forced to withdraw from his Dec. 19 headliner against rising star Khamzat Chimaev. The #3 ranked welterweight, 29, was promised the next title shot if he won on the promotion’s final card of an unprecedented year, but after a positive COVID-19 test and severe symptoms, has to wait until the new year. Continue reading
UFC 256: Usman-Burns to be rescheduled again, so what’s next?
After recent news confirmed UFC 256 will not feature Kamaru Usman’s scheduled welterweight title defence against #1 contender Gilbert Burns – a fight once again postponed for a later date – it now begs the question: what’s next for 2020’s final PPV card on December 12? Continue reading
Tyron Woodley confirms he’s not retiring, despite yet another UFC loss
Although he’s now gone 75 minutes in the Octagon without winning a single round, future UFC Hall of Famer and former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has confirmed he’s not yet prepared to retire or switch up his coaches after suffering a dominant TKO defeat by #2 ranked contender Colby Covington in last weekend’s main event matchup at the Apex Center in Vegas. Continue reading
UFC 251: Masvidal to replace Burns in title fight against Usman, subject to testing
After initial negotiations to face welterweight champion Kamaru Usman broke down earlier this year, #3 ranked challenger Jorge Masvidal has agreed a deal to fight him on six days’ notice ahead of next weekend’s stacked UFC 251 card. Continue reading
UFC 251: Gilbert Burns tests positive for COVID-19, title bout vs Kamaru Usman off
Gilbert Burns’ welterweight title opportunity will have to wait, as the Brazilian and his cornermen tested positive for coronavirus just a week before the biggest bout of his MMA career against training teammate and current champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 251. Continue reading
UFC 251: Three title fights, Dana confirms Abu Dhabi as Fight Island location
The first ever Fight Island card is set to feature a trio of exciting title fights on July 11 at UFC 251. Dana White confirmed a welterweight title bout between Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns will headline the card, on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
