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Kamaru Usman's KO of Jorge Masvidal stunned the MMA world

jack baer
Staff writer
·3 min read
30

Go ahead, call Kamaru Usman a boring fighter.

The UFC welterweight champion defended his title at UFC 261 on Saturday, defeating Jorge Masvidal for a second time in two years. Unlike his foot stomp-heavy win by decision last year, Usman delivered a stunning KO in the second round.

Usman laid Masvidal out with a hard right after hitting him with a jab, and the fight was soon called.

Here's how broadcasters Jon Anik and Joe Rogan reacted ringside:

Meanwhile, former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson, who had big money on Masvidal, was less excited.

Several of Usman's peers were stunned by the dominant display from a fighter who has been knocked in the past for a boring (but effective) style in the Octagon.

There was also some discussion about Usman's place on both the UFC pound-for-pound rankings and the all-time list of welterweights. Usman himself claimed the title of No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in his interview after the bout.

The win improved Usman's career record to 19-1, and extended his UFC win streak to 14. Only Anderson Silva (16 wins) holds a longer win streak in UFC history, per ESPN Stats & Info. His four wins over some quality competition (Masvidal twice, Colby Covington and Gilbert Burns) also had some wondering if he may be challenging Georges St-Pierre as the greatest welterweight ever.

Greatest or not, Usman's win was the exclamation point of one of the most eventful main cards in UFC history. No fight reached the third round, and every single one ended in wild fashion. Unfortunately, that included a brutal leg fracture and bizarre dead leg in the two non-title fights.

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