Defining Fights: UFC 251 headliner Kamaru Usman

UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman returns to action at UFC 251 as he looks to defend his 170-pound title for the second time.

Usman (16-1 MMA, 11-0 UFC) will take on “BMF” champion Jorge Masvidal, who agreed to step in on six days’ notice to challenge for the undisputed title following Gilbert Burns’ enforced withdrawal due to a failed COVID-19 test.

It means the welterweight title matchup many fans had hoped to see is set to become a reality on “UFC Fight Island” as Usman and Masvidal (35-13 MMA, 12-6 UFC) get set to throw down at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Ahead of his main event clash with Masvidal on Saturday, we take a look at five fights that have helped define Usman’s UFC career so far.

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Hayder Hassan at The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale – Jul. 12, 2015

Usman’s UFC career kicked off via The Ultimate Fighter, where he formed part of The Blackzilans team that took on American Top Team in a battle of the rival Florida gyms back in 2015.

Usman defeated Michael Graves and Steve Carl earlier in the season to earn his spot in the final, where he faced ATT’s Hayder Hassan. And in a fight that saw the members of both teams surrounding the cage and screaming their support, it was Usman who prevailed as he used his superior wrestling skills to get the fight to the mat before eventually finishing Hassan via second-round arm-triangle choke.

The victory earned bragging rights for The Blackzilians, and punched Usman’s ticket to the UFC as he moved on to join the promotion’s 170-pound welterweight division as a dangerous new prospect.

Watch Kamaru Usman vs. Hayder Hassan on UFC Fight Pass

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