UFC 251: Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal Betting Guide (2020)
It’s been nearly three months since Dana White told the world that “we have an island.â€
That statement will become a reality this weekend with the debut of Fight Island, located just outside of Abu Dhabi. Due to its location, the company can bring in fighters from outside the United States. That’s a first since it resumed operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In true UFC style, the company wasted no time in setting up a main event for the ages. After the withdrawal of Gilbert Burns due to a positive coronavirus test, fellow welterweight Jorge Masvidal has stepped in on a week’s notice to take on current champion Kamaru Usman.
Let’s take a closer look and see where we can spot an edge.
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Kamaru Usman (16-1-0) vs. Jorge Masvidal (35-13-0)
These odds came from FanDuel Sportsbook on July 10, 2020.
As far as UFC’s main events go, it doesn’t get much better than two bitter rivals, and that’s what we’ve got in Usman and Masvidal.
Defending his belt for the second time, current welterweight champion Kamaru “The Nigerian Nightmare†Usman looks to add another win to his unlikely rise amongst the UFC greats. Usman entered the company through the Ultimate Fighter in 2015, and he has rattled off 11 straight victories to claim the top spot in the welterweight division.
The last time we saw Usman in the octagon was in December at UFC 245 in a fifth-round TKO of Colby Covington. Since most of Usman’s is known for his fights going the distance, that was a somewhat surprising result. He battled back and got the better of his opponent after taking several shots early, ending the fight in its final minute.
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For Masvidal, his chance at the title comes on the heels of Gilbert Burns’ withdrawal. While the Burns-Usman fight would’ve been good, Masvidal and Usman have a documented hatred of each other. That makes this one even better.
The last time we saw Masvidal inside the octagon was at UFC 244 in November. He fought Nate Diaz for the UFC’s (symbolic) BMF belt, and it ended in a doctor stoppage because of the punishment Masvidal dished out. The win was “Gamebred’s†third in a row, all by KO/TKO.
Given the short notice and Usman’s earlier preparation for a different kind of fighter, I firmly believe anything could happen in this one. And that’s despite the juicy odds (-245) that Usman is laying as the favorite.
What I can’t see happening, however, is this fight being left up to the judges to decide. With two fighters who despise each other so much, and with an emerging star in Masvidal in his biggest fight to date, this one won’t go the distance.
Pick: Will the fight go the distance? – NO (-172)
Find odds across all US sportsbooks via our consensus UFC odds >>
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TJ Perun is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from TJ, check out his archive and follow him @JohnnyCovers.