UFC 261
UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2 | ||||
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Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship | |||
Date | April 24, 2021 | |||
Venue | VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena | |||
City | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | |||
Attendance | 15,269[1] | |||
Total gate | $3,300,000[1] | |||
Buyrate | 700,000[2] | |||
Event chronology | ||||
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UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on April 24, 2021 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, United States.[3][4]
Background
The promotion had initially planned to hold the event in Singapore. However, negotiations with the Singaporean government fizzled amongst COVID-19 protocols and the promotion initially turned to their home base of Las Vegas.[3] On March 15, UFC president Dana White announced the event would be moved to Jacksonville, Florida, with a full capacity of "15,000 UFC fans", marking the first time since UFC 248 in March 2020 that a full capacity crowd would be available (the UFC hosted a trio of events in Abu Dhabi in January with a limited number of fans).[4] Jacksonville also hosted the UFC's first fights back after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020, before the organization started hosting events in either Las Vegas or Abu Dhabi.[4]
A UFC Welterweight Championship rematch between the current champion Kamaru Usman (also The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians welterweight winner) and Jorge Masvidal headlined the event.[4] They previously met at UFC 251, where Usman defended his title via unanimous decision.[5]
A UFC Women's Strawweight Championship bout between the current champion Zhang Weili and former champion Rose Namajunas took place as the co-main event.[6][7]
A UFC Women's Flyweight Championship bout between current champion Valentina Shevchenko and former strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade completed the triad of title fights.[8]
A middleweight rematch between former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman and Uriah Hall was expected to take place at UFC 258 in February.[9] They met previously in September 2010 at a Ring of Combat event for the organization's middleweight title, with Weidman winning via TKO.[10] However, Weidman was pulled from that event in late-January due to a positive COVID-19 test. The pairing remained intact and eventually took place at this event.[11][12]
Johnny Walker was expected to face Jimmy Crute in a light heavyweight bout.[13] However, Walker pulled out due to an injury and was replaced by former UFC Light Heavyweight Championship challenger Anthony Smith.[14]
Randy Brown and Alex Oliveira were expected to meet in a welterweight bout at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gane, but Brown pulled out due to undisclosed reasons.[15] They eventually fought each other at this event.[16]
A bantamweight bout between Mark Striegl and Johnny Muñoz was expected to take place at the event.[17] However, Striegl was removed from the bout on March 24 due to undisclosed reasons and replaced by Jamey Simmons.[18] In turn, Simmons also pulled out on April 8 for undisclosed reasons. As a result, Muñoz was removed from the card as well and will be rescheduled for a future event.[19]
Results
Main card | |||||||
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Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
Welterweight | Kamaru Usman (c) | def. | Jorge Masvidal | KO (punch) | 2 | 1:02 | [a] |
Women’s Strawweight | Rose Namajunas | def. | Zhang Weili (c) | KO (head kick) | 1 | 1:18 | [b] |
Women’s Flyweight | Valentina Shevchenko (c) | def. | Jéssica Andrade | TKO (elbows) | 2 | 3:19 | [c] |
Middleweight | Uriah Hall | def. | Chris Weidman | TKO (leg injury) | 1 | 0:17 | |
Light Heavyweight | Anthony Smith | def. | Jimmy Crute | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 1 | 5:00 | |
Preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+) | |||||||
Welterweight | Randy Brown | def. | Alex Oliveira | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 2:50 | |
Welterweight | Dwight Grant | def. | Stefan Sekulić | Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
Middleweight | Brendan Allen | def. | Karl Roberson | Submission (ankle lock) | 1 | 4:55 | |
Featherweight | Pat Sabatini | def. | Tristan Connelly | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
Early preliminary card (ESPN2 / ESPN+) | |||||||
Bantamweight | Danaa Batgerel | def. | Kevin Natividad | TKO (punches) | 1 | 0:50 | |
Lightweight | Kazula Vargas | def. | Rong Zhu | Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
Flyweight | Jeff Molina | def. | Aori Qileng | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
Women’s Strawweight | Ariane Carnelossi | def. | Na Liang | TKO (punches) | 2 | 1:28 |
- ^ For the UFC Welterweight Championship.
- ^ For the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship.
- ^ For the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship.
Bonus awards
The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[21]
- Fight of the Night: Jeff Molina vs. Aori Qileng
- Performance of the Night: Kamaru Usman and Rose Namajunas
See also
References
- ^ a b Mike Bohn (2021-04-25). "UFC 261 post-event facts: Kamaru Usman's octagon streak hits rarified air". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
- ^ Mookie Alexander (2021-04-27). "Report: UFC 261 generated over 700,000 domestic pay-per-view buys". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
- ^ a b Raphael Marinho (2021-02-18). "Without agreement to perform UFC 261 in Singapore, UFC opts for Las Vegas". globoesporte.globo.com. Retrieved 2021-02-18. (in Portuguese)
- ^ a b c d Staff (2021-03-15). "UFC 261 heads to Florida with Usman-Masvidal 2 leading three title fights in front of full crowd". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
- ^ Andreas Hale (2020-07-14). "UFC 251 results: Kamaru Usman dominates Jorge Masvidal to retain UFC Welterweight title". dazn.com. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
- ^ Ariel Helwani (2021-02-26). "Sources: Zhang Weili vs. Rose Namajunas for strawweight title being targeted for UFC 261". espn.com. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
- ^ Mathew Scott (2021-03-09). "UFC 261: Zhang Weili confirmed to fight Rose Namajunas on April 24 in strawweight title clash". scmp.com. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
- ^ Brett Okamoto (2021-02-24). "Valentina Shevchenko-Jessica Andrade flyweight title fight set for UFC 261". espn.com. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
- ^ Mike Bohn (2020-11-17). "Uriah Hall, Chris Weidman agree to rematch at UFC 258 on Feb. 13". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
- ^ Keith D'Souza (2020-12-09). "Uriah Hall set to rematch Chris Weidman at UFC 258". essentiallysports.com. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
- ^ Ariel Helwani (2021-01-28). "Chris Weidman tests positive for COVID-19, bout vs. Uriah Hall now off". espn.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
- ^ Mike Bohn (2021-01-29). "Uriah Hall vs. Chris Weidman rematch shifts from UFC 258 to UFC 261 after positive COVID-19 result". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
- ^ Brett Okamoto (2021-01-02). "UFC light heavyweights Jimmy Crute, Johnny Walker agree to March 27 fight, sources say". espn.com. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
- ^ Danny Segura (2021-02-09). "Anthony Smith replaces Johnny Walker, meets Jimmy Crute at UFC 261 in April". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
- ^ John Morgan (2021-02-22). "Randy Brown out of UFC Fight Night 186; Alex Oliveira needs new opponent". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
- ^ Staff (2021-03-24). "Rescheduled matchup of Randy Brown vs. Alex Oliveira among additions to UFC 261". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
- ^ Mike Heck (2021-03-03). "Johnny Munoz vs. Mark Striegl added to UFC 261". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
- ^ Nolan King (2021-03-24). "With Mark Striegl out, Jamey Simmons targeted to fight Johnny Munoz at UFC 261". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
- ^ Jack Welch (2021-04-08). "Johnny Munoz vs Jamey Simmons off for UFC 261". behindthegrind.co. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ "UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
- ^ Staff (2021-04-25). "UFC 261 bonuses: Kamaru Usman, Rose Namajunas among $50,000 no-brainers". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-04-25.