Masvidal to take on Usman in welterweight title fight at UFC251 in Abu Dhabi
SHOWS:
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE - NOVEMBER 2, 2019) (USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES - Broadcaster and Digital: MUST COURTESY 'USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES') (STILL PHOTOS-MUTE)
1. STILL PHOTO OF JORGE MASVIDAL DURING UFC 244 FIGHT AGAINST NATE DIAZ AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
2. STILL PHOTO OF MASVIDAL LANDING KICK ON DIAZ
3. STILL PHOTO AFTER MASVIDAL DEFEATED DIAZ
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, UNITED STATES (FILE - JULY 6, 2019) (USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES - Broadcaster and Digital: MUST COURTESY 'USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES') (STILL PHOTOS-MUTE)
4. STILL PHOTO OF JORGE MASVIDAL LEANING AGAINST CAGE WITH HIS HANDS BEHIND HIS BACK BEFORE KNOCKING OUT BEN ASKREN AT UFC 239 IN RECORD 5 SECONDS AT T-MOBILE ARENA.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, UNITED STATES (FILE - DECEMBER 14, 2019) (USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES - Broadcaster and Digital: MUST COURTESY 'USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES') (STILL PHOTOS-MUTE)
5. STILL PHOTO OF KAMARU USMAN LANDING A PUNCH ON COLBY COVINGTON DURING UFC 245 AT T-MOBILE ARENA
6. VARIOUS STILL PHOTOS OF USMAN AFTER DEFEATING COVINGTON
STORY: Jorge Masvidal will take on Kamaru Usman in a welterweight title fight at UFC 251 next weekend in Abu Dhabi, president Dana White confirmed Sunday (July 5).
Cuban-American Masvidal was called in as a late replacement for Gilbert Burns after the Brazilian reportedly tested positive for Covid-19 and withdrew Friday (July 3).
Both Masvidal (35-13) and Nigerian-American Usman (16-1) will head to Abu Dhabi this week for the July 11 showdown at UFC's new Fight Island resort.
Masvidal last fought in November 2019 when he defeated Nate Diaz at UFC 244 while Usman (16-1) knocked out Colby Covington in December at UFC 245.
UFC 251 will also feature Alexander Volkanovski taking on Max Holloway in a featherweight title fight and Jose Aldo will battle Petr Yan with the bantamweight title on the line.
(Production: David Grip)
