Dana White Confirms Return To Full Capacity Arena With Kamaru Usman Vs Jorge Masvidal II

Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal are set to meet for the second time on April 24th, with Dana White confirming a huge card for UFC 261.

It is only a month since Usman last defended his title, beating former teammate Gilbert Burns, and he is going straight back into action next month.

In a video on his Twitter account, UFC president White revealed that fans would return in an US venue for the first time in around a year, in Jacksonville, Florida.

Usman and Masvidal, who fought last year on Fight Island with no fans, will face again, whilst Valentina Shevchenko and Weili Zhang will also defend their titles on the same card.

Last year, Usman was meant to defend his title against Burns in Australia at UFC 251. The Covid-19 pandemic delayed the fight and forced it to move location.

After months of hints about 'Fight Island,' White revealed it would take place in Yas Island, Dubai, but Burns had to pull out late on because of his coach's positive test for the virus.

That led to Masvidal stepping in at the last minute, a decision that included an extreme weight cut for the BMF champion.

With little time to prepare for the challenger, it was no surprise that the champion was victorious, winning by unanimous decision over the five rounds.

Usman then fought Burns in his next title defence at UFC 258 in February, with the Brazilian causing an early problem for the Nigerian.

Burns managed to knock the champ down in the first round and had him worried for a short time, before Usman rallied to cause a TKO in the third round, to take his record to 18-1 in his third title defence.

Shevchenko, whose only two UFC losses have come to the great Amanda Nunes, is set to defend her flyweight title against Jessica Andrade.

The Brazilian is all too familiar with the two women competing in what will be the third title fight of the night in April, between China's Weili and Rose Namajunas, with Andrade having fought them both at strawweight, beating Namajunas for title before losing it to Zhang.

It will be the second time in just over a month that White has put on three title matches in a night, following the success of UFC 259 earlier this month.

Topics: Jorge Masvidal, UFC, MMA, Dana White, Kamaru Usman

Ryan Sidle

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