Kamaru Usman wanted to make a statement in his rematch against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261. He also wanted to prove that his unanimous decision win in their first fight at UFC 251 wasn't a fluke.
Usman accomplished both by making an emphatic statement Saturday night, scoring perhaps the most vicious knockout of 2021, when he starched Masvidal with a right hand to KO him out cold at the point of impact. The knockout punch and the hammerfists that followed clinched Usman's win at the 1:02 mark of the second round to retain his welterweight title at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.
"Jacksonville, Florida, ya'll said ya'll wanted violence? You're welcome," Usman told Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview.
In the first round, Usman and Masvidal were trading on the feet. Usman let it be known from the outset he wanteed to strike as he landed a crisp jab to snap Masvidal's head back. Masvidal smiled back and landed a right hand to the body and short a left hand, which Usman ate.
Seeing that Masvidal was getting into a rhythm, Usman picked him up and slammed him down for a takedown. Masvidal made it back to his feet and landed a hard knee to get some momentum heading into the second round.
Masvidal began the second stanza with a hard leg kick. Usman came back with a hard right hand and Masvidal once again laughed at him. He wasn't smiling for too much longer as Usman feinted a left and fired a vicious right hand that turned Masvidal's head at impact. Usman pounced and sealed the deal with blistering hammerfists to retain the belt for the fourth time.
"I know with my fundamentals, I am pound-for-pound the best fighter on the planet right now," Usman said bluntly.
It was the first time in his 50-fight career that Masvidal (35-15) had been stopped via strikes.
"It hurts," Masvidal admitted. "I've never been knocked out in 50 pro fights. Usman showed me something that he didn't show the first fight. That's what happens when you get overconfident. He's got my number, man."
Here is what happened at UFC 261: Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal 2.