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On Saturday night, Kamaru Usman successfully defended his welterweight title with a five-round unanimous decision victory over Jorge Masvidal in the main event of UFC 251. And with the champion still firmly entrenched at the top of the division, it didn’t take long for his potential next opponents to start fighting over who should get the next shot at him.
Shortly after Usman got his hand raised, top contender Gilbert Burns responded to a Tweet suggesting he should face Leon Edwards next in a No. 1 contender bout, throwing shade at Edwards for having no wins over a top-five opponent and reasserting his claim for the title shot.
Only fair? Come on @arielhelwani I know you don’t like me and I couldn’t care less. But let’s go to facts I just k.o the number 5 and dominate the number 1(former champ) Leon has good wins but no one in the top 5 So as the REAL BOSS @danawhite said I’m Next! That’s Only Fair ✊ https://t.co/OuIA0z8mUG
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) July 12, 2020
Burns was the intended opponent for Usman at UFC 251 until he contracted COVID-19 and was removed from the card just a few days before fight week. Of course, that doesn’t mean much to Edwards who was lobbying to face the winner of UFC 251 all week and did not take Burns’ comments about him well. “Rocky” responded in kind to Burns which begat a back-and-forth over the rightful next welterweight title challenger.
@GilbertDurinho Shut your mouth boy you're only where you are at due to good luck and circumstance. You have no place in the top 5 and you know it so sit the fuck down. You knocked out a 46 year old jujitsu guy and a washed woodley sit the fuck down
— Leon 'Rocky' Edwards (@Leon_edwardsmma) July 12, 2020
Who you beat journeyman Cowboy? Split decision on Nelson?? RDA is the only real one you beat, but he wasn’t in the top 5. And you just fight once or 2 a year! Sit down the boss already said I’m next!
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) July 12, 2020
Remember boy you got the Woodley fight because I couldnt. You got the title shot because I couldnt. You are always steps behind me and you are levels below me.
— Leon 'Rocky' Edwards (@Leon_edwardsmma) July 12, 2020
Yes Leon you couldn’t fight twice, and your last fight was a year ago, and you want a title fight? ♂️ ♂️ ♂️ Leon go try to revenge the 3 piece and a I just spoke with the boss I’m next! Better start to calling Jorge or Thompson forget bro no one cares abt Leon
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) July 13, 2020
And as for the champion? Usman is not overly concerned about picking his next opponent. In the post-fight press conference, “The Nigerian Nightmare” was pretty open to fighting either guy, or whoever else the UFC may deign to put in front of him, because, after all, the best laid plans of the UFC often go awry anyway.
“We’ve got to wait to see what happens,” Usman said. “We all know what happens in the UFC. Nothing is for sure unless you’re stepping inside that cage. That’s when something is for sure. We learned that six days ago. . .
“That’s the one thing, in this division, there’s no shortage of contenders. Leon Edwards is there. The guy’s been tearing it up. Gilbert had an amazing year, he’s there. Colby thinks he’s there. So there’s no shortage of challenges. There’s always gonna be a challenger, they’re always gonna throw somebody in there with me and whoever the company feels they want to throw in there, that’s my job as a champion to go in there and dominate like I just did.”
Burns and Edwards both have a case for the next title shot. Burns is 4-0 since moving up to welterweight, with notable wins over Demian Maia and Tyron Woodley. In contrast, Edwards is currently riding a seven-fight win streak with notable wins over Donald Cerrone and Rafael dos Anjos. They are currently ranked Nos. 1 and 4 respectively in the UFC rankings.
MUST-READ STORIES
Results. Check out all the winners from UFC 251 on Fight Island.
Formula 2. Jorge Masvidal: Kamaru Usman was the better man tonight, but ‘I know the formula’ to beat him now.
Controversy.Dana White criticizes Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway verdict at UFC 251: ‘We’ve got some bad judging’.
Statement. Jose Aldo releases statement following loss to Petr Yan: ‘I will come back stronger than I already am’.
EA UFC 4. Jorge Masvidal, Israel Adesanya named cover athletes of EA Sports UFC 4.
Venum. UFC picks Venum to replace Reebok as exclusive outfitting partner.
VIDEO STEW
UFC 251 post-fight show.
Fighters pick the rest of the Fight Island fights.
The making of Fight Island.
Post-fight press conference.
Masvidal and Adesanya EA Sports UFC 4 cover shoot.
Lance Palmer trying to get let go.
LISTEN UP
6th Round. Immediate post-fight analysis of UFC 251.
Severe MMA. Reviewing all the fights at UFC 251 and looking ahead to Wednesday’s card.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Masvidal
That’s 6 days... give us 6 weeks and see how things looks. Congratulations to Kamaru Usman on another title defense. Proud of @gamebredfighter . He still is and always will be the true BMF King! #ufc251 #americantopteam pic.twitter.com/99jvhNgeBr
— Mike Brown (@mikebrownmma) July 12, 2020
Give me 15 days coach #supernecessary https://t.co/5P522plXaK
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) July 13, 2020
Old married couple. (Conor deleted)
Champion.
Just landed in Vegas for another quarantine and was told some guys in the media are receiving threats for saying my fight was not a robbery. This is not ok. I appreciate everyone who wants to ride for me but that ain't it.
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) July 13, 2020
Life isn't fair. It's even more unfair for many many other people in the world than it will ever be for me. People are unemployed right now with no end in sight and it's not their fault.
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) July 13, 2020
It is what it was. Nothing changed for me as a fighter. We proved our point. I still have my five belts at home. I'm 28 and healthy. Blessed era continues. Bless yourself
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) July 13, 2020
Call out and response.
Super retired.
Prove me wrong! I’ll bet my whole purse that you wouldn’t beat me! And my first girlfriend. #bendtheknee @alexvolkanovski https://t.co/R4LceIasLG
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) July 13, 2020
Respect.
Nothing but respect to the legend and future hall of famer @josealdojunior
— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) July 12, 2020
Disrespect.
Yan is too slow!!
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) July 12, 2020
And you are too dumb, no chin https://t.co/c32tTfwNDC
— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) July 12, 2020
Let’s find out, we have unfinished business!! You only act tough when your rat looking friend got his camera out. https://t.co/EM3NEI5Ucq
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) July 12, 2020
You can wait. https://t.co/JCdKWedvMi
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) July 12, 2020
just a matter of time before that title is mine, doesn’t matter who’s ass I have to beat to get it. https://t.co/aP91j6ydnm
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) July 12, 2020
Big mad.
Enjoying the fights as much as possible while having to listen to Bisping. Happy anniversary to the night I put you to bed. @bisping
— Dan Henderson (@danhendo) July 12, 2020
Yeah on steroids mate. You cheating cunt. No honour, no surprise. Then I beat you with one eye. Get fucked sour bitch. https://t.co/zFNNChhF7I
— michael (@bisping) July 12, 2020
Never won the ufc belt. Don’t be sour you old wanker. Now disappear back to obscurity https://t.co/zFNNChhF7I
— michael (@bisping) July 12, 2020
Drinking again and reliving your old glory. All polite to my face and talk shit online. Didn’t have you down as a keyboard warrior. https://t.co/zFNNChhF7I
— michael (@bisping) July 12, 2020
Surprised you saw this, guess you're not keeping your one eye on the fights as you're supposed to be commentating. No wonder why your commentating is shit. https://t.co/Gs8cVQ2xTy
— Dan Henderson (@danhendo) July 12, 2020
Says the guy that’s totally irrelevant haha. Go on insult my eye. So what. Shows what a true piece of shit you are. But you say hi when you see me. Lol. A real disgrace to the flag that you fly lol. Doesn’t surprise me. Total fake, should of known, steroid cheating cunt! https://t.co/gdqaQE12kF
— michael (@bisping) July 12, 2020
Ouch.
Just got back from the hospital. Jaw is fractured in 2 places and also a fractured nose! But thank you @danawhite @seanshelby @ufc for making this happen it’s everything I wanted and I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity respect to Martin Day true warrior https://t.co/04mo7crGKm
— Davey Grant (@DaveyGrantMMA) July 12, 2020
Reflection.
A fight we can all get behind.
PUNCHING OLD MOTHERFUCKER CHAMPIONSHIP pic.twitter.com/IvG7whZml3
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) July 12, 2020
Fight poster.
On to the next! Your #UFC252 poster has landed! pic.twitter.com/rzPzaxxe27
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) July 12, 2020
I’ve watched this roughly 27 times. It’s just so happy.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tim Means (29-12-1) vs. Laureano Staropoli (9-2); UFC Fight Night, Aug. 8.
Sean O’Malley (12-0) vs. Marlon Vera (17-6-1); UFC 252, Aug. 15.
Emily Whitmire (4-3) vs. Polyana Viana (10-4); UFC Fight Night, Aug. 29.
Sarah Alpar (9-4) vs. Jessica-Rose Clark (9-6); UFC Fight Night, Sep. 26.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The combined record of the the three champions coming out of UFC 251 is 54-3. That’s f*cking insane. Add in 28-0 Khabib and 19-0 Adesanya, plus Jon Jones and that’s the greatest crop of champions ever. And Stipe ain’t nothing to sneeze at.
Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.
EXIT POLL
Poll
Who had the most impressive performance at UFC 251?
This poll is closed
-
16%
Usman
(142 votes) -
2%
Volkanovski
(19 votes) -
81%
Yan
(722 votes)
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