UFC superstar Jorge Masvidal is facing UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in a rematch in the main event of UFC 261 on April 24. UFC president Dana White announced the news via Twitter on Monday, and Masvidal tweeted about the event soon after that.
Masvidal posted, “You’re welcome #andnew”.
You’re welcome #andnew
Usman didn’t immediately tweet about facing Masvidal again after the fight was announced on social media by White, but the 170-pound champ had mocked Masvidal (and UFC superstar Conor McGregor) within the last 24 hours or so.
You can see that tweet below.
A little later, Usman posted about his “Shmooooood”.
You can watch White’s announcement about UFC 261 below via Twitter.
WE ARE BACK!!!!!!
#UFC261 April 24th. Jacksonville, FL. FULL CROWD.
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UFC 261 Features 3 UFC Championship Fights
Usman vs. Masvidal won’t be the only UFC title fight on the card. Also included will be two other important UFC championship fights.
UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will defend her belt against former UFC women’s strawweight champion Jessica Andrade in the co-main event.
Shevchenko is one of the most dominant champions in the sport, and she’ll hope to continue her stranglehold on the women’s 125-pound division by beating Andrade.
China’s first-ever UFC champ will also be in action.
Weili Zhang will defend her UFC women’s strawweight championship against former champ Rose Namajunas in a fight worthy of co-main event status all on its own.
Last year, Zhang defeated Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the consensus “Fight of the Year”, and “Thug” Rose is one of the most popular rumblers in the division.
But maybe the best part is that those two massive fights could actually lead to an even bigger showdown for the winners later this year.
White previously revealed to the media that the UFC wants Shevchenko and Zhang to face each other next if both champs win their upcoming fights at UFC 261.
Assuming both champs do win at UFC 261 as bookmakers expect, Shevchenko vs. Zhang would be a superfight of the highest order.
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Fans Allowed at ‘Full Capacity’
But that wasn’t the only bombshell White dropped in the video.
According to White’s post on Twitter, UFC 261 will take place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, and it will be the first UFC pay-per-view event since the pandemic hit last year to allow a full crowd of fans.
Jacksonville’s Mayor tweeted his support and excitement about allowing fans into the arena at UFC 261 next month. Curry posted, “@danawhite, @GovRonDeSantis, and I will continue to demonstrate that Florida is poised to safely host signature sporting events watched globally. Welcome back to Jacksonville…”
So Usman vs. Masvidal is on its way again, and this time there will be a full crowd of fight fans screaming over the action.
Usman vs. Masvidal was one of the best-selling fights of the year in 2020, and the rematch is probably going to be the same this year. Usman defeated Masvidal by unanimous decision at UFC 251, but Masvidal entered that contest with less than a week’s notice after Usman’s original opponent fell off the card due to COVID-19.
Now, Masvidal will get a full training camp to prepare for arguably the most dominant champion in the UFC right now: Usman.
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Jorge Masvidal’s Next Fight Announced: ‘You’re Welcome’