UFC 261: Kamaru Usman knocks out Masvidal in brutal fashion to retain title

One of the greatest fighters in UFC history, Kamaru Usman shattered Jorge Masvidal’s enigma with a brutal second-round knockout.

The narrative around the rematch was that a full camp might just give Masvidal the chance to reverse July’s result.

That was when ‘Gamebred’ stepped in on six days’ notice and lost to the welterweight champion via unanimous decision.

But it feels as though no amount of preparation could have helped Masvidal on Sunday morning.

And that is because Usman knocked him out cold in front of a crowd in his home state of Florida.

A full-capacity Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville hosted 15,000 returning fans.

And almost all wanted Masvidal’s two-year “resurrection” to end in ascension.

But Masvidal would lose, dropping limply to the mat after one devastating right straight from the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’.

In their first meeting, Usman (19-1) used his wrestling prowess to stifle Masvidal’s brawling tendencies.

And it was clear that ‘Gamebred’ was wary of engaging the champion on Saturday for fear of another battering.

That fear kept him where he stood early in the second round when Usman spanned Masvidal’s chin onto his shoulder.

And that was with a picture-perfect punch that sent his challenger’s sweat spraying out of the Octagon.

Masvidal was out at once but he woke up as he hit the canvas.

A handful of hammer fists put him back to sleep, the Floridian remarkably resembling Ben Askren from the night Masvidal turned the former Olympian into a meme with a record-setting five-second KO.

Masvidal will no doubt be on the wrong end of a fair few memes in the morning.

But the 36-year-old thankfully recovered to congratulate Usman as the bad blood between the rivals seemed to dry.

Usman has now won 18 straight fights and continues to improve with every victory.

His strikes are also now almost as much of a threat as his great wrestling abilities.

It is unclear who or if anyone can unseat the welterweight king from his throne.

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