UFC 261 viewers guide: Three title fights, a full house and Masvidal's chance at redemption

8:00 AM ET

The UFC will take another big step toward normalcy this weekend, with a UFC 261 pay-per-view event in Jacksonville, Florida, in front of a full capacity crowd.

It’s pretty interesting this landmark event will feature a welterweight title fight main event between Kamaru Usman (18-1) and Jorge Masvidal. (35-14). That’s the exact same matchup that headlined another landmark moment last July — when the UFC made its debut in the now-famous Fight Island over in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Why did the UFC go back to this matchup to serve as headliner in such a major spot? Especially because the first meeting was very one-sided in Usman’s favor?

The answer lies in Usman’s record. He has already beaten the UFC’s official No. 1-ranked contender in Colby Covington. He has beaten the No. 2-ranked Gilbert Burns, as well as the No. 3-ranked Leon Edwards. And oh, would you look at that, there’s Masvidal at No. 4, whom he has obviously taken out as well.

When you’re as dominant as Usman has been — 13 consecutive wins — you get a strong say in the direction of your career. Usman probably could have chosen any of these four to fight next, and he specifically requested Masvidal.

How come?

Some, including Masvidal, would say it’s for the money. This matchup offers Usman the highest upside in a PPV split, because Masvidal is the most popular man in the division. The champ hasn’t denied that was a factor, but he has also said his win over Masvidal is the only one against these top contenders that doesn’t sit well with him.

“Honestly, I don’t think I broke him, the way I wanted to break him,” Usman told ESPN. “When you’re in there with that opponent, there’s such an intimate moment where only you and that guy know what’s going on. Only you and that guy know how hard he hits you. Only you and that guy know how hard I’m going at home. And with Masvidal, I don’t think I fully broke him the way I wanted to. With everyone else, I know when I broke them.”

It’s a tale of two wildly different perspectives on the same July fight. Usman wasn’t happy because he believes he can finish Masvidal, while Masvidal believes he felt everything Usman had to offer and cannot lose to the man if he’s given a full camp to prepare. Masvidal took the first matchup on six days’ notice, due to a late withdrawal by Burns.

Who’s correct? That’s the beauty of the fight game. We’ll find out. But either way, the fact the UFC is revisiting this matchup again, in a premier spot, shouldn’t surprise us. There’s good reason to believe, even if the result is another win for Usman, it will look completely different.

In addition to the main event, Zhang Weili will return for the first time since her 2020 Fight of the Year candidate against Joanna Jedrzejczyk to defend her strawweight title against former champ Rose Namajunas, who also has a history of delivering on big nights. And Valentina Shevchenko, one of the most dominant women in MMA, will defend her flyweight title against ex-strawweight champ Jessica Andrade.

Buy UFC 261 on ESPN+ PPV

Welterweight championship:
Kamaru Usman (c) vs. Jorge Masvidal 2

By the numbers

15,000+: Fans are back at UFC 261 with more than 15,000 fans expected to be in attendance.

13: Usman’s current win streak, which is tied for the second-longest streak ever

50: Number of professional fights for Masvidal, as of Saturday night. It will also be Masvidal’s 20th UFC fight

47: Takedowns for Usman, third-most among active welterweights

5: Takedowns for Usman against Masvidal in their previous fight

Sources: ESPN Stats & Information and UFC Stats

Five vs. five

Kamaru Usman’s most recent results
Win: Gilbert Burns (TKO3, Feb. 13, 2021; watch on ESPN+)
Win: Jorge Masvidal (UD, July 12, 2020; watch on ESPN+)
Win: Colby Covington (TKO5, Dec. 14, 2019; watch on ESPN+)
Win: Tyron Woodley (UD, March 2, 2019; watch on ESPN+)
Win: Rafael Dos Anjos (UD, Nov. 30, 2018)

Jorge Masvidal’s most recent results
Loss: Kamaru Usman (UD, July 12, 2020; watch on ESPN+)
Win: Nate Diaz (TKO3, Nov. 2, 2019; watch on ESPN+)
Win: Ben Askren (KO1, July 6, 2019; watch on ESPN+)
Win: Darren Till (KO2, March 16, 2019; watch on ESPN+)
Loss: Stephen Thompson (UD, Nov. 4, 2017)

A look back: Usman beats Masvidal at UFC 251 but doesn’t finish him

Film study: Gilbert Melendez on Jorge Masvidal

And the winner is …

“I really think it’s going to go a lot like the first time. I’m a big fan of how Usman is able to come up with the perfect game plan for everyone he fights — he never fights the same way twice. He’s really good at figuring out what his opponents’ weaknesses are. I think that’s actually why it’s really bad for Masvidal, because now Usman’s been able to prepare for him.” — Angela Hill, UFC strawweight

More expert picks on Usman-Masvidal