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That will do us from Abu Dhabi in the UFC's debut from 'Fight Island'. Still plenty of action to come from Yas Island, stay tuned to Newshub Sport for all your MMA needs.
UFC 251 main card:
Welterwight title: Kamaru Usman v Jorge Masvidal
(Result: Kamaru Usman wins via unanimous decision 50-45,50-45, 49-46)
Featherweight title: Alex Volkanovski v Max Holloway
(Result: Alex Volkanovski via spilt decision 48-47x2, 47-48)
Bantamweight title: Petr Yan v Jose Aldo
(Result: Petr Yan via TKO [Strikes] - Round 5)
Women's strawweight: Rose Namajunes v Jessica Andrade
(Result: Rose Namajunes via split decision)
Women's flyweight: Amanda Ribas v Paige VanZant
(Result: Amanda Ribas via submission [armbar] - Round 1)
Welterweight title: Kamaru Usman (16-1) v Jorge Masvidal (35-13)
(Result: Kamaru Usman wins via unanimous decision 50-45,50-45, 49-46)
Round 5: Final round. Usman looks fresh - Masvidal looks gassed. Six days notice will do that to you. Counter left hook lands for Jorgebut Usman with a heavy right to the body - Usman shoots and has the takedown. Masvidal fighting to get up, but Usman has secured the guard positon. Usman lands a nice elbow from top.Masvisdal throws his legs up for a triangle but it's not there. Usman into side control now with two minutes left. Mount now for Usman, but Masvidal rolls out - Usman in control though with a front choke position. Knee lands to the body for Usman. He's working on a front choke but Masvidal works himself back to his feet. Elbow lands for Masvidal and they seperate. Masvidal lands a big right hand but misses with the flying knee. Right hand for Usman as the fight comes to an end and the two gladiators shake hands. Newshub score: Usman 10-9 and the fight 49-46.
Round 4: Head kick is blocked by Masvidal but Usman follows with a well-timed shot and has the clinch against the cage again. Usman lands a couple of foot stomps again. Short hooks to the body land for Usman. He's in complete control. Masvidal seperates but Usman is straight back in with the takedown and secures it. Masvidal working his way back up again but Usman has control against the fence. Hook lands in close for Usman and a nice left hand. Masvidal defends another takedown and he lands a big elbow that backs Usman up and another....Usman retreats but Masvidal doesn't have the gas tank to follow up. Right hand lands for Masvidal and a head kick that is partially blocked. Usman lands a big left hook and then he's in on the shot and presses Masvidal against the cage. Big elbow in the clinch lands for Usman as the round ends. Newshub score: Usman 10-9.
Round 3: Leg kick lands for Jorge out of the gate and another. Usman pushes Masvidal against the fence again and lands several foot stomps! Ouch. Nice shot to the body in close lands for Usman, but Masvidal lands and elbow as they seperate. Masvidal with a nice kick to the body as Usman shoots - stuffed by Jorge but again Usman has fence control. Low shot from Usman and the referee stops the action for a moment to give the challenger a chance to recover. Front kick lands for Masvidal. Masvidal loads up on a right but can't land. Jab lands for Usman and he shoots and scores a takedown. Usman on top now looking to secure a dominant position, but Jorge fights back up. Usman land a beautiful takedown throw and has side control in the centre of the cage. Masvidal rolls well and has guard back. Usman lands a short inside elbow to the dome of the challenger. A couple big elbows land for Usman as the round end. Newshub score: Usman 10-9.
Round 2: Leg kick to open for Masvidal. Body kick lands for Masvidal as Usman shoots, but can't score the takedown. Clinch by Usman but he can't get Masvidal down ... he has Masvidal up against the fence in the clinch. Usman controlling Masvidal, landing a few nice shots in close...he's opened a cut up on Jorge with a short elbow. Knee lands for Jorge and a front kick as they seperate. Back to the clinch goes Usman and he presses Masvidal against the fence. Usman lands a a couple nice hooks to the body of Masvidal....in total control in this position. Foot stomp lands for Usman and another body shot. They seperate and Usman swings hard but misses. Masvidal lands a nice hook - usman with a leg kick. Right hand lands for Masvidal as the round ends. Newshub score: Usman 10-9.
Round 1: Here we go folks.....Masvidal opens with a leg kick and avoids a right from Usman. Usman catches a leg kick and scores the takedown in the centre of the cage.Mavidal straight back up and lands a couple of nice shots in close. Leg kick and an uppercut lands for Masvisal as Usman shoots and gets cage position. Masvidal seperates and lands a straight left. Another left lands for Masvidal, but Usman lands a nice short elbow. Right then a left lands for Jorge and an overhand. Usman needs to shoot and not play this game. Usman clinches but Masvidal lands a few shots in the clinch. Close but ill give that round to Masvidal on output. Newshub score: Masvidal 10-9.
Preview: Don't be fooloed by Masvidal's record. He had a breakout 2019, stopping Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz - all legit contenders and he's won six of his last eight. Usman is undefeated in the UFC, looking to tie the great Georges St-Pierre with 12 straight welterweight wins. He shut out a dominant champion in Tyron Woodley to win the title in March 2019, and stopped Colby Covington in one of the best fights of 2019 to defend his title.
5:03pm - These two blokes do not like each other - but if Usman can fight to his gameplan, he could dominate 'Street Jesus' on the ground.
4:55pm - Next up we have the main event - Usman v Masvidal!
4:51pm - Wow! Volk gets the split nod from the judges. That was a super close fight - Max won the first two, Volk the final two with the third round being the swing round. Alex is a great bloke, so I'm super stoked for him.
Featherweight title: Alex Volkanovski (21-1) (c) v Max Holloway (21-5)
(Result: Alex Volkanovski via spilt decision 48-47x2, 47-48)
Round 5: Two close rounds that I edged for Alex but he could need a finish. It's very very close. Head kick open for Holoway but he misses on a hook. Uppercut lands for Holloway and he nails Volk with a head kick - slightly blocked. Jab lands for Volk and he clinches .... Volk lands a left hand on the break and a right hand as they engage again. Volk lands a left hook in close that stuns Holloway a little. Leg kick lands for Volk and a jab but Holloway lands an uppercut. Left hook from Volk is countered nicely by Holloway. Max lands a nice one-two down the middle. Volk lands a takedown but Holloway is straight back up. Volk lands a left on the break and another left. Volk shoots again but Max sprwals nicely. Leg kick lands for Volk and a left hook. Another takedown is stuffed by Max. Jab lands for Volk. Volk clinches looking for that takedown and he nails it to finish the fight. Newshub score 10-9 Volkanovski and the fight 48-47 but it could go either way.
Round 4: Championship rounds. Holloway sprints out of the corner. Spinning kick misses for Holloway but he lands a nice left hook. Leg kick lands hard for Volk and he lands a nice inside leg kick to follow. Hollowat misses on a right as Volk lands a counter. Two inside leg kicks land for Volk. Outside leg kick lands for Volk as Holloway almost lands a flying knee. Body shot lands for Volk but Max lands a big uppercut and a spinning kick to the body. Volk lands a jab. Inside leg kick lands for Volk and he clinches and gets the takedown. Max pops back up and they seperate. Jab lands for Volk and another. Inside leg kick lands for Volk and he shoots again but Holloway sprawls well and lands a shot on the break.Left and a right lands for Volk and a jab. Left hook lands for Max to end the round. Close round. Newshub score: Volkanovski 10-9.
Round 3: Volk lands a nice body kick to open the round but Max lands a nice leg kick. Flying knee lands for Holloway but Volk shakes it off. Left hook misses for Volk. Inside leg kick lands for Volk but Holloway lands a counter and then avoids the strikes of Volk. Volk lands a nice left hook and then follows with a takedown shot ... Holloway defends as Volk forces him against the cage. Holloway lands a nice knee as they seperate. Nice left hook lands for Volk - his best punch of the fight. Jab lands for Volk as does a lead left hook. Head kick blocked by Volk. Inside leg kick lands for Volk and another. Right hook and body kick lands for Volk and he should take that round. Newshub score: Volkanovski 10-9.
Round 2: Holloway looks great - Volk looks a little stiff. Inside leg kick lands for Alex and he follows with an outside leg kick. Double kick to the inside leg lands for Volk but max lands a heavy left hook....he looks so slick. Lead left hook barely lands for Volk. Inside leg kick lands for Volk - Max replies with two of his own. Another inside leg kick lands for Volk and he follows with a nice left hook. Knee lands for Max in close as Volk looks to engage. Volk lands a right but Max counters nicely with a short right himself. Left hook lands for Volk clean but Max is okay.Straight right lands clean for Max. Leg kick lands for Volk but an uppercut floors Volk again at teh end of the round and that could be two in the bag for the challenger. Newshub score: Holloway 10-9.
Round 1: We are underway. Inside leg kick to open from Volk. Holloway with a long reaching left hook misses. Inside leg kick lands for Volk. Front kick lands for Holloway.Nice uppercut to the body lands for Max, but Volk replies with a leg kick. Uppercut lands for Max - Volk struggling with range. Lead left hook lands for Alex - Max shakes it off. Max lands a right that stuns Volk but he recovers quickly. Right hook over the top lands for the Aussie as does and inside leg kick. Spin kick to the body lands for Max and then he drops Volk with a head kick as the round ends. Newshub score: Holloway 10-9.
Preview: Volkanovski became the second City Kickboxing fighter to win UFC gold when he beat Holloway for the belt in December. The Australian is perfect inside the Octagon with seven wins from seven fights. Holloway is arguably the greatest featherweight of all time, winning 14 of his last 15 in the division. This should be a very competitive fight and I expect a fairly motivated Holloway to ask some questions of the defence of the champ.
4:04pm - About five minutes away from the ring walk for Alex Volkanovski's first UFC title defence.
3:58pm - Another great fight. Aldo looked great for the first three rounds and domianted at points, but Yan just came home like a hurricanes to run over the Brazilian with a barrage of strikes at the end.
Vacant bantamweight title: Petr Yan (14-1) v Jose Aldo (28-6)
(Result: Petr Yan via TKO [Strikes] - Round 5)
Round 5: They embrace to open the final round. Yan rocks Aldo with a big left then follows with a right and Aldo is down ... Yan follows him to the ground and is in Aldo's half guard. Yan landing big shots from top and then a hige elbow. Side control now, and he has Aldo against the fence, Another big elbow lands for Yan - Aldo fighting hard to get out bit he gives up his back. Yan landing heavy shots as Aldo covers up. Yaan landing hammer fists from the top now - referee about to jump in but Aldo tries to shrimp out. Yan still landing shots to a battered Aldo who's turtled now. He's still moving but he's taking plenty of damage. Yan lands two more shots and the referee stops the fight mercifully.
Round 4: Championship rounds and it could be 2-1 either way at this point. left hook lands for Yan as they clinch and seperate. Body kick lands for Yan but Aldo replies with a nice body shot himself. Clinch by Yan but Also seperates. Knee to the body lands for Aldo but Yan replies with a beautiful left hook. Right uppercut to the body lands for Aldo. Jab lands for Aldo but he is slowing down big time. Yan misses a flying knee. Head kick misses for Yan as Aldo lands a stiff right.Inside leg kick lands for Yan as Aldo backs up. Lovely combo lands for Yan and a hige right has Aldo backed against the cage. Yan takes Aldo down and is looking to finish the fight. Yan on top in Aldo's closed guard ... Aldo looks spent. Yan ;ands a big right from top as the clock winds down to end the round. Newshub score: Yan 10-9.
Round 3: Close fight folks. Fighters touch gloves to open the 3rd. Body kick lands for Aldo and a nice lead left hook. Yan lands a side kick to the body. Yan lands a nice left hand but Aldo replies witha body shot. Left hook to the body lands for Aldo and he's hurt Yan and throws a heavy knee in the clinch. Yan responds with a flurry that backs Aldo up. Leg kick lands for Aldo and another. Yan with a big left hook but Aldo rolls with it to avoid heavy impact. Yan lands a nice left hand to the body. Aldo slowing down a bit. Jab lands for Yan as Aldo lands an inside leg kick and a body shot. Knee kands for Aldo as Yan lands a nice right hook and an elbow in the clinch. Body shot lands for Aldo. Great fight this - close round that id slightly lean towards Yan. Newshub score: Yan 10-9.
Round 2: Front kick lands for Aldo to open the round. Head kick misses for Yan. Leg kick is there for Aldo and another. Body kick is there for Aldo, but Yan lands a nice shot to the body. Inside leg kick lands for Aldo. Fighters exchange a couple of jabs. Left shot to the body lands for Aldo and he avoids the counter rush of Yan. Leg kick lands for Aldo and he's starting to chew the leg of Yan now. Yan lands a nice one-two. Yan has switched to southpaw now to avoid the outside leg kicks to his left leg. Body kick lands for Aldo as Yan misses on a left. Inside leg kick lands for Yan. Jab lands for Aldo and he follows with an inside leg kick then a body shot. Heavy left hook to the body lands for Aldo and another one. Body kick lands for Aldo to end the round. Newshub score: Aldo 10-9.
Round 1: Inside leg kick lands for Yan. Yan misses with a head kick and then wings with a right. Yan lands a big right hand that backs Aldo up. Body shot lands for Yan. Aldo with a heavy leg kick that knocks Yan off his feet and follows with a heavy right hook to the body. Aldo misses with a low kick. Right hand lands for Aldo as does another leg kick. Yan wings on a hook as Aldo lands another low kick. Aldo shoots for the takedown and lands it, Yan defends and turns the tables to get on top in Aldo's guard. Yan land a heavy right from the top and Aldo's in trouble - he just survives the horn. Yan stole that round late. Newshub score: Yan 10-9.
Preview: Aldo is the longtime former UFC featherweight champion, holding that belt for four years before he ran into Conor McGregor. He has lost two on the bounce, but the retirement of champion Henry Cejudo has him positioned for this fight. Yan has looked unbeatable in six UFC fights, stopping Uriah Faber in his last fight.
3:08pm: Awesome fight. Namajunes gets one back over the women who took her title. Namajunes could be next for champion Weili Zhang.
Women's strawweight: Rose Namajunes (8-4) v Jessica Andrade (20-7)
Result: Rose Namajunes via spilt decision [29-28x2, 28-29]
Round 3: Could be 1-1 heading into the final frame. Andrade lans a right cross, Rose responds with a jab. Stiff jab lands for Rose as she avoids a heavy shot from Andrade. Both ladies land jabs. Rose lands a big right hand that backs up Andrade for a moment. Jab down the middle lands for Rose. Uppercut lands for Andrade bloodies up Rose's nose. Rose wobbled with a right - they clinch and Andrade lands a big takedown. Rose's face is a mess. Rose looking for a triangle from the botton and kicks Andrade off. Uppercut misses for Andrade.Spinning kick lands for Rose and then a heavy right, but Andrade lands a heavy response. Right lands for Rose. Andrade stalking Rose who lands takedown but Jessica is straight back up. Andrade lands a jab and an uppercut. Rose with a nice inside elbow as the round ends.Newshub score: Andrade 10-9 but Namajunes the fight 29-28, but it could go either way.
Round 2: Jab lands for Rose as Andrade wings and misses on a right hook. Inside leg kick and outside leg kick lands for Andrade. Rose misses on a flying knee. heavy leg kick lands for Andrade - Rose responds with a front kick to the body. Right hand lands for Rose but Andarde responds with a heavy body punch and a big right hand that backs Rose up. Andrade finding her range. Rose just misses a flying knee. head kick misses a head kick and Rose makes her pay witha stinging jab. Left hook lands for Rose - Andrade trying to close the distance and they clinch as Rose lands a knee on teh seperation. Andrade misses a big hook.Jab lands for Rose but Andarde lands a nice right to the body. Andarde lands a big left to end the round. Very close round. Newshub score: Namajunes 10-9.
Round 1: Rose using her length to start - huge reach advantage for the American. Rose ducks out the way of a Andrade hook. Jab lands for Rose and she avoids an uppercut. Right hand lands for Rose. Left hook and jab lands for Rose but Andrade lands a stiff jab. Andrade misses a left hook as Rose lands a big right and then follows with a leg kick. Left hook lands for Andrade but she misses with a flying knee. Clinch from Andrade but Rose lands a knee to force a seperation. Right hand lands for Rose. Andarde shoots but Rose sprawls and lands a high kick. Andrade avoids a big right from Rose. Body kick lands for Rose as the round ends. Newshub score: Namajunes 10-9.
Preview: Two former champions about to do battle for the second time. Andrade won the first bout with a bit of a flukey KO win over 'Thug' Rose. This is Namajunes' first fight since dropping the strap to Andrade in May last year. Andrade's four fight win streak was halted by Weili Zhang last August - this is her first fight back.
2:25pm - Great performance from Ribas - she is a legit talent and will find herself high in the rankings come next week.
Women's flyweight fight: Amanda Ribas (9-1) v Paige VanSant (8-4)
Result: Amanda Ribas via submission [armbar] - Round 1
Round 1: Ribas forcing the pace early ... cutting PVZ off. Clinch and Ribas nails Paige with a heavy knee to to the body. Takedown lands for Ribas and she secures side control and a headlock. Paige is cut. Paige rolls out of position but she's caught in an armbar - it's not quite there, but she goes belly-to-belly and extends the arm and Paige taps.
Preview: Ribas is one of the most promising female fighters on the roster, currently holding a perfect 3-0 UFC record. VanZant was formally the golden girl of the UFC, but her star has faded because of injury and a couple of poor results, although she won last time out - back in January 2019 - against Rachael Ostovich.
2:10pm - Plenty of multi-bet option floating around the Newshub office today - for me, I've gone with Usman, Volkanovski, Yan and Rose on head-to-head bets.
1:55pm - Not to far away from the opening fight of the afternoon - Paige VanZant returns from a near two-year layoff, taking on Amanda Ribas.
UFC 251 prelim fight results:
Light heavyweight - Jiri Prochazka beat Volkan Oezdemir via KO (R2)
Welterweight - Muslim Salikhov beat Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos via split decision
Featherweight - Makwan Amirkhani beat Danny Henry via submission (R1)
Lightweight - Leonardo Santos beat Roman Bogatov vis decision
Heavyweight - Marcin Tybura v Maxim Grishin via decision
Flyweight - Raulin Paiva beat Zhalgas Zhumagulov via decision
Women's bantamweight - Karol Rosa beat Venessa Melo via decision
Bantamweight - Davey Grant beat Martin Day via KO (R3)
Hello all and welcome to live coverage of one of the most stacked main cards in UFC history.
It's a historic event for the UFC - their first on Dana White's Fight Island which is located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
Three titles are on the line as well as a much up between two former women's strawweight champions, Rose Namajunes and Jessica Andrade.
In the main event, welterweight champion Kamaru Usman defends against challenger Jorge Masvidal, who is stepping in on six days notice, replacing Gilbert Burns.
Kiwi-trained Australian Alex Volkanovski defends his featherweight title against former champion Max Holloway in a rematch from their December bout that saw the City Kickboxing fighter claim the title via decision.
The third title fight sees longtime featherweight champion Jose Aldo step down in weight, to compete for the vacant bantamweight title against Russian Peter Yan, who is undefeated inside the Octagon.
Stay tuned for all the play-by-play of the main card from 2pm.
