Getty Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal
UFC president Dana White posted an epic hype video on Sunday via social media featuring the presumed new main event for UFC 251 on July 11 in Abu Dhabi. UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and “BMF” champ Jorge Masvidal have long seemed destined to do battle inside the UFC’s Octagon. After a stunning turn of events over the last few days, which began with Usman’s original opponent for UFC 251 Gilbert Burns pulling out of the contest, it now appears the surprise megafight Usman vs. Masvidal will top the UFC’s next pay-per-view card.
If you’re not 100% hyped yet just knowing that the most anticipated welterweight fight in MMA is on the way, you will be after watching this excellent promotional video.
Adding New Main Event Makes UFC 251 Can’t-Miss PPV
UFC 251 boasts one of the best PPV line-ups in recent history.
Featuring two other title fights, the card was already completely salvageable without Usman’s next title defense on it. But now that UFC 251 features Usman vs. Masvidal in the main event, it’s become an absolute can’t-miss moment in the sport.
Because assuming Usman and Masvidal make it to Abu Dhabi to face each other as expected, UFC 251 now features three title fights, and that’s something that’s only happened five other times in the company’s history.
Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal have agreed to headline #UFC251 on Saturday, July 11th 🤯
The BMF steps up on six days notice to face the UFC welterweight champion!
This sport is craaaaazy 🙌
So adding Masvidal to the card was the right move. It gives fans the fight they most wanted to see in the UFC’s welterweight division, allows for Burns to wait for the winner, and makes UFC 251 the kind card that should generate massive numbers at the box office.
On top of that, UFC 251 is the debut of Fight Island. That fact alone would have boosted PPV sales for the card, but now that UFC 251 features such a robust line-up of top-notch fights from top to bottom, numbers should go through the roof.
UFC 251 Full Fight Card
The card listed below is subject to change.
UFC 251 Main Card (PPV)
Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway 2
Petr Yan vs. Jose Aldo
Jessica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas 2
Amanda Ribas vs. Paige VanZant
UFC 251 Prelims (ESPN)
Volkan Oezdemir vs. Jiri Prochazka
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs. Muslim Salikhov
Makwan Amirkhani vs. Dan Henry
Leonardo Santos vs. Roman Bogatov
UFC 251 Early Prelims (ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass)
Marcin Tybura vs. Alexander Romanov
Raulian Paiva vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov
Karol Rosa vs. Vanessa Melo
Martin Day vs. Davey Grant
READ NEXT: LOOK: UFC Reveals First Picture of Fight Island
Twitter: @Kelsey_McCarson
YouTube: Real Talk with Kelsey and Rachel