UFC 251: Masvidal vs. Usman preview

By chance, Fight Island now has the main event everyone has been waiting for!

Kamaru Usman will defend his welterweight title against Jorge Masvidal in a fight that has captivated the MMA universe for more than a year, and the two are on a collision course that is sure to deliver.

BetAmerica has your up-to-the-minute pick for the new UFC 251 main event on Saturday, July 11.

Masvidal is an upgrade over Burns

The one thing Masvidal brings to the table that Gilbert Burns does not is that he is a polished striker, with excellent footwork and a mean streak. While Burns had to hope he could endure Usman’s stand-up game long enough to catch him off guard for a takedown, Masvidal has the hand speed and punching power to make things interesting against the dominant champion.

Masvidal has excellent takedown defense and has only been forced to the canvas a handful of times over the last few years, but he hasn’t faced a technician as solid as Usman for a long time. Whether Usman takes him down or knocks him to the canvas, Masvidal must get back on his feet before Usman mauls him and fishes for a submission. In the 48 fights during his pro career, Masvidal has scored only two submissions, with his last submission win seven years ago.

Usman has youth and strength on his side

Usman is going to enjoy several advantages. He is younger, longer, stronger, and perhaps in his prime. The mileage Masvidal has put on will be on full display, and if he couldn’t get out of the way of Nate Diaz’s shots in his last fight, he is going to be in for a long night against an opponent who is all wrong for him.

There is only one way for Masvidal to win. He needs to score early and hard enough to prevent Usman from taking the lead. Doing that with a 4-inch deficit in reach will be hard accomplish, especially when his porous defense and one-trick-pony game plan suggests he’ll have to endure some serious punishment just to land the shot that’ll change the fight.

Masvidal vs. Usman is shaping up to be a brutal beatdown

This fight is a definite upgrade from Usman/Burns in entertainment value, but the gap in class between these two suggest we’re in for a lopsided beating courtesy of the champ.

The fans will get the fight they want, but what they’ll end up getting is Usman knocking a brave Masvidal from pillar to post before the corner pulls the plug in the fourth.

MMA free pick: Usman (-310)

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