UPDATE: Highlights, updates, results from full UFC 251: Usman vs. Masvidal card
Kamaru Usman will defend his UFC welterweight title against his rival and "BMF" champion Jorge Masvidal in the main event of UFC 251, which kicks off the MMA promotion's month-long stay at "Fight Island" in Abu Dhabi.
The main event was originally slated to be a showdown between Usman and Gilbert Burns, but the challenger tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced off the card a week ahead of his scheduled fight. In an effort to keep Usman on the card, the UFC settled on the man who was originally penciled in as his opponent, Jorge Masvidal. The two sides came to terms quickly on a fight and will headline the UFC's event from Yas Island.
Usman is coming off a 2019 campaign that saw him end Tyron Woodley's title reign in dominant fashion at UFC 235 and followed that performance with a fifth-round TKO of Colby Covington at UFC 245.
Masvidal last fought in November 2019 when he defeated Nate Diaz for the "BMF" championship at UFC 244.
The two have been feuding since January when a shouting match in Miami during Super Bowl week captivated the MMA world. And despite plans originally going in a different direction, MMA fans get the fight they have been asking for at UFC 251.
There are two other championship fights on Saturday's card. Alexander Volkanovski will defend the UFC featherweight title in a rematch against Max Holloway. Volkanovski, who defeated Holloway at UFC 245 in December, is looking for his ninth straight victory. Holloway, perhaps the greatest 145-pounder in UFC history, has lost two of his last three fights.
Petr Yan and former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will battle for the vacant UFC bantamweight championship. Yan is undefeated during his UFC tenure but will have to get past an all-time great.
UFC 251 will also feature a rematch between a pair of former women's strawweight champions as Rose Namajunas faces Jessica Andrade, and Paige VanZant faces Amanda Ribas in the final fight on her UFC contract.
Here is everything you need to know about how to watch UFC 251, including channels, pay-per-view prices and fight times.
UFC 251: TV channel, live stream for Usman vs. Masvidal
United States
In the United States, the UFC Fight Pass prelims will begin at 6 p.m. ET, and it will be simulcast on UFC Fight Pass, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ in English and Spanish. The prelims will continue exclusively on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET. The ESPN+ pay-per-view main card begins at 10 p.m. ET.
Canada
In Canada, the early prelims are on UFC Fight Pass and TSN, the prelims are on TSN and RDS, and the pay-per-view main card is available on Bell, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus and Eastlink, as well as UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.
Australia
In Australia, the early prelims and prelims are on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN. The pay-per-view main card, set for 2 p.m./12 p.m. AEST/AWST (Sunday), is on Main Event and Fetch TV plus UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.
Brazil
In Brazil, the prelims and main event (11 p.m. BRT) are on Combate.
United Kingdom
In the U.K., the early prelims are on UFC Fight Pass with the prelims on UFC Fight Pass and BT Sport. The main card is available at 3 a.m. BST (Sunday) on BT Sport.
Ireland
In Ireland, the early prelims are on UFC Fight Pass with the prelims on UFC Fight Pass and BT Sport. The main card is available at 3 a.m. BST (Sunday) on BT Sport.
Germany
In Germany, the early prelims and prelims are on UFC Fight Pass with the main card available at 4 a.m. CEST (Sunday) on DAZN, the global sports streaming service, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.
Italy
In Italy, the early prelims are on UFC Fight Pass with the prelims (2 a.m. CEST Sunday) and main card (4 a.m. CEST Sunday) available on DAZN, the global sports streaming service, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.
Spain
In Spain, the early prelims and prelims are on UFC Fight Pass with the main card available at 4 a.m. CEST (Sunday) on DAZN, the global sports streaming service, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.
Mexico
In Mexico, the early prelims are on UFC Fight Pass with the prelims on UFC Fight Pass and Fox Sports. The main card is available at 9 p.m. MEX on Fox Sports.
You can learn more about how to watch in other countries at UFC.com .
What time does UFC 251 start?
- UFC Fight Pass prelims: 6 p.m. ET | 3 p.m. PT
- UFC 251 prelims: 8 p.m. ET | 5 p.m. PT
- UFC 251 PPV: 10 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. PT
Broadcast coverage of UFC 251 will begin with the UFC Fight Pass prelims at 6 p.m. ET followed by the prelims at 8 p.m. ET. The pay-per-view event is set to begin around 10 p.m. ET. Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal are expected to hit the Octagon about 12:15 a.m. ET, although the exact time depends on the length of earlier fights.
How much is UFC 251 pay-per-view?
- PPV price: $64.99 USD
In the United States, the main card of UFC 251 is available via pay-per-view on ESPN+, which requires a monthly or yearly subscription. The PPV price for UFC 251 is $64.99 for current subscribers. For new subscribers, a bundle price of UFC 251 and an ESPN+ annual subscription is $84.98.
Pricing globally varies, depending on region and platform.
UFC 251 fight card
Main card
- Kamaru Usman (c) vs. Jorge Masvidal for the UFC Welterweight Championship
- Alexander Volkanovski (c) vs. Max Holloway for the UFC Featherweight Championship
- Petr Yan vs. José Aldo for the vacant UFC Bantamweight Championship
- Jéssica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas; Women's Strawweight
- Amanda Ribas vs. Paige VanZant; Women's Flyweight
Prelims
- Volkan Oezdemir vs. Jiří Procházka; Light Heavyweight
- Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs. Muslim Salikhov; Welterweight
- Makwan Amirkhani vs. Danny Henry; Featherweight
- Leonardo Santos vs. Roman Bogatov; Lightweight
UFC Fight Pass Prelims
- Marcin Tybura vs. Maxim Grishin; Heavyweight
- Raulian Paiva vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov; Flyweight
- Karol Rosa vs. Vanessa Melo; Women's Bantamweight
- Davey Grant vs. Martin Day; Bantamweight