KAMARU USMAN scored a brutal KO victory over Jorge Masvidal to retain his UFC crown.
In one of the most eventful cards in modern histoy, UFC 261 proved to be a terrific night of entertainment with some huge performances from Usman, Rose Namajunas and Uriah Hall.
- Kamaru Usman BEAT Jorge Masvidal (2nd round TKO)
- Rose Namajunas BEAT Weili Zhang (1st round TKO)
- Valentina Shevchenko BEAT Jessica Andrade (2nd round TKO)
- Uriah Hall BEAT Chris Weidman (1st round TKO)
- Anthony Smith BEAT Jimmy Crute (1st round TKO)
Follow ALL of the latest fight updates and reaction below…
- William Pugh
KAR BLIMEY
New Zealand flyweight Kai Kara France joined millions of fight fans around the world in lauding UFC after a stunning UFC 261 show.
Kamaru Usman knocked out Jorge Masvidal in the main event and France summed up what most of the audience were thinking.
- William Pugh
'YOU'RE WELCOME'
Kamaru Usman signed out in style after his devastating stoppage of Jorge Masvidal.
The Nigerian Nightmare is still undisputed welterweight world champ and he was quick to remind fans he gave them what they wanted.
- Chisanga Malata
LEON EDWARDS CALLS OUT THE CHAMP
Brit Leon Edwards clearly isn't afraid of Kamaru Usman following The Nigerian Nightmare's stunning stoppage of Jorge Masvidal.
In fact, in-form Edwards has called of Africa's first UFC champion.
- Chisanga Malata
BREATHTAKING SHOTS
Just take a look at these epic shots of Kamaru Usman's stoppage of Jorge Masvidal.
The Nigerian Nightmare well and truly made a statement in his finish of Gamebred.
- Chisanga Malata
BONUS ALERT
Unsurprisingly, Kamaru Usman and Rose Namajunas bagged $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses.
- Chisanga Malata
ANDERSON SILVA SENDS A CLASSY MESSAGE TO CHRIS WEIDMAN
Former middleweight champion Anderson Silva has sent a message to Chris Weidman, who suffered a horrific leg break in his UFC 261 rematch with Uriah Hall.
He wrote: "My deepest and most sincere sentiments champ. Have faith, I wish you a speedy recovery.
"In this moment I wish you and your family light, love and knowledge.
"To the fans of the sport, please respect this moment of this incredible warrior and let's wish that he is 100% very recovered soon.
"May God bless you and your family."
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A post shared by Anderson "The Spider" Silva (@spiderandersonsilva)
- Chisanga Malata
KAMARU USMAN HAS JOINED THE POST-FIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE
He said of his performance: "[It's] just amazing. I put a lot of time into this.
"And shoutout to Masvidal. I had to bring my A-game.
"He elevated me, he gave me that extra umph that I needed in training. So I'm just blessed to be in this time right now."
- Chisanga Malata
MORE FROM DANA WHITE ON JAKE PAUL
Dana White isn't interested in the prospect of doing business with Jake Paul
In the post-fight press conference, he said: "He ain't fighting in the UFC. You're getting me talking about this f***ing guy again.
"He's getting handpicked opponents and God knows what else is going with that whole f***ing this. There is a market for that – that is not what I do.
"That is not what I do. People want to see that and it's great and this kid is going to make a couple of bucks before this ride is over.
"It's just not what I do. What I do is what happened tonight. What happened tonight is we sold this place out and it was packed.
"The numbers that you're hearing that they did are full of s**t. They're full of shit. They didn't pull those kind of numbers. Not even f*****g close.
"Tonight, what happened here tonight, is what I do. The best versus the best.
"There is a market for that, people want to see that stuff and that kid going to make a couple of bucks and good for him. But that's not what I do."
Jake Paul was in attendance at UFC 261Credit: Reuters - Chisanga Malata
WEIDMAN TO UNDERGO SURGERY
Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman is currently in hospital following his horrific leg break and will undergo surgery tomorrow.
Chris Weidman shattered his right leg in his rematch with Uriah HallCredit: Reuters
- Chisanga Malata
DANA WHITE ON CHRIS WEIDMAN'S HORRIFIC LEG BREAK
"It's only happened three times to two of the gives that are involved in this.
The irony of that whole thing is crazy. I'm gonna go see him before I leave.
"You guys, how loud was that? Holy s**t that was crazy. I don't even know what to say about that."
Chris Weidman suffered a horrific leg break in his rematch with Uriah Hall - Chisanga Malata
TEAM-MATES CELEBRATE
Welterweight and strawweight champions Kamaru Usman and Rose Namajunas had a moment backstage after their respective fights.
And Usman was quick to praise Thug Rose for her highlight-reel KO of Weili Zhang.
- Chisanga Malata
DANA WHITE REACTS TO JAKE PAUL GATECRASHING THE CARD
"I've said it before and I'll say it again: this kid has done a good job of putting himself in a place to make some money, man.
"So good for him. He's got you guys talking about him all the time and asking questions about him.
"You've got Daniel Cormier running after him, so he's doing something right. He knocked out an NBA guy that was 40 years old and 30lbs less than him.
"And I don't even know what to think about the f**king [Ben] Askren thing. The whole thing is f**king mindboggling to me.
"But, hey, good for him. Grab that money while you can, kid.
"The numbers are there? I don't know if the numbers are there. Listen: do you know what would happen to this guy?"
- Chisanga Malata
WHITE KEEN ON NAMAJUNAS VS ZHANG 2
"Obviously the rematch, that's a fun fight and I think a lot of people would be excited about that fight.
"I don't make fights the night of the fight, but I'm just saying that makes a lot of sense."
- Chisanga Malata
DANA WHITE ON KAMARU USMAN'S HATERS
"You're an idiot if you think he's boring."
- Chisanga Malata
CLASSY FROM JORGE
In his post-match interview, he said: "The first time in my career and it's in front of all my people; my family my friends. It hurts. I've never been knocked out in 50 pro fights.
"Usman showed me something that he didn't show in the first fight. And that's what happens when you get over confident.
"I thought we were gonna wrestle more. I was ready to wrestle 25 minutes. All the props to him in the world, he caught me by surprise.
"He's got my number, man. There ain't nothing I can say. But he won this fair and square a god bless him, man."
- Chisanga Malata
CAGESIDE VIEW
A closer look at the immediate aftermath of Kamaru Usman's stoppage of Jorge Masvidal.
- Chisanga Malata
ALL CLASS
The beef between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal seems to be a thing of the past following their post-fight embrace.
- Chisanga Malata
OUT COLD
Here's a look at that devastating knockout of Jorge Masvidal.
- Chisanga Malata
IT'S OVER!
Kamaru Usman has just starched Jorge Masvidal with a huge, huge right hand.
Masvidal is a mess right now and doesn't know where he is.
And still!!
- Chisanga Malata
ROUND TWO
KamaruUsman takes the centre of the octagon again but is being less aggressive than he was in the first.
Jorge Masvidal is peppering Usman's lead leg.
- Chisanga Malata
ROUND ONE
Kamaru Usman immediately takes the centre of the octagon but Jorge Masvidal meets him in the middle.
Fan favourite Masvidal lands good inside and outside low kicks.
Gamebred is throwing a lot of feints and giving the champ lots of different looks.
Usman lands a big right hand that gets the attention of Masvidal, who sticks out his tongue and invites his opponent on.
The champ is utilising jabs to the body and the head well.
Masvidal shoots for a flying knee, which Usman catches and uses to initiate a powerful takedown.
Usman is now in full guard and looking to land shots, although he's eaten a few elbows for his troubles.
Masvidal has managed to get to the fence and is trying to use it to wall walk. And they separate.
Usman lands a big right but is getting wild with his strikes.
Masvidal lands a flying knee moments before the end of the round.
- Chisanga Malata
FIRED UP
Jorge Masvidal is geed up ahead of his second crack at UFC gold.
- Chisanga Malata
HERE WE GO!
Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal II is almost upon us.
My heart is racing. This should be a good one.
- Chisanga Malata
EMOTIONAL
Rose Namajunas was overcome with emotion following her stunning stoppage of Weili Zhang.
- Chisanga Malata
OH MY GOD!!!!
Rose Namajunas has knocked Weili Zhang with a huge head kick.
I don't believe what I've just witness. Holy smokes!!
Rose Namajunas is a two-time women's strawweight champion!
Rose Namajunas lands a beautiful head kick on Weili ZhangCredit: Reuters
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