'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
UFC 251 is in the books and we had an incredible PPV to open the fireworks on Fight Island. We had an incredible main card and three Championship fights. Who walked out with the UFC gold? Let's get right into it!
#5. Paige VanZant vs Amanda Ribas opens UFC 251
Round 1: The favorite Amanda Ribas took little to no time to put a stamp on Paige VanZant. She put the pressure on her, took her down, took her back, and would go on to submit her with a beautiful armbar in just two minutes to seemingly end Paige VanZant's UFC run.
Result: Amanda Ribas def. Paige VanZant via armbar (Rd 1, 2:21)
This marked Paige VanZant's last fight in the UFC as her contract has run out. The UFC star admitted that she'll be testing free agency.
#4. Jessica Andrade vs Rose Namajunas 2
Round 1: Former UFC Strawweight Champions Jessica Andrade and Rose Namajunas kept their distance. Rose Namajunas landed the first strike of the night and looked good early on. Jessica Andrade started charging like a bull and moving forward with some aggressive strikes. Andrade was kept at bay by a strong right hand. Andrade tried a flying knee but Namajunas avoided her. Andrade tried to clench her but Rose Namajunas drove a knee to the mid-section to neutralize it. Andrade's head movement was solid as well, preventing a lot of Namajunas' strikes. It was a tough round to judge but it appeared that Namajunas had a slight advantage.
Round 2: Jessica Andrade was the aggressor. Rose Namajunas pushed forward as well. Namajunas was close to landing a flying knee but Andrade escaped with her head movement. She landed a couple of clean strikes, but they didn't have the sting behind them. Andrade responded with a vicious body shot and then a big right. Rose Namajunas was still going forward and it appeared to be going towards a slugfest but Namajunas thought better of it before missing another knee and tumbling down. Namajunas landed a leg kick and Andrade immediately went for the clinch before it was broken up. Namajunas and Andrade exchanged but they didn't seem to land anything to hurt each other viciously. Namajunas' anticipation of distance was fantastic while Jessica Andrade was using a new strategy as well.
Round 3: The two were close but didn't manage to land anything significant in the early going of the final round. Former UFC Champion Rose Namajunas ate an uppercut and she tried a flying knee again but failed. Andrade landed a big hip throw and Namajunas was busted open. Namajunas attempted a triangle but let it go. She kicked Andrade right back to the feet in perhaps the biggest moment of the fight. Namajunas landed a clean right before eating one herself. Andrade started to connect more but Namajunas neutralized with her on the jab. Namajunas started to slow down in the final minute but she kept moving forward and got a takedown, only for the Brazilian to turn it on her immediately. Namajunas ate a heavy jab to end the classic UFC fight.
Result: Rose Namajunas def. Jessica Andrade via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
#3. Jose Aldo vs Petr Yan - Vacant UFC Bantamweight Championship
Round 1: Petr Yan landed the first strike and the two didn't seem to keep much distance. Petr Yan caught the legend Jose Aldo's attention with his right hand. Jose Aldo would proceed to knock him down and they would both utilize their speed to land vicious strikes. Petr Yan kept a high guard right after. Petr Yan missed a few strike attempts and Aldo's kick to the leg had a clear impact. He attempted a body kick but Yan caught it just on time. The Russian landed a vicious right and he transitioned down, wanting to welcome Yan into his guard. Aldo ate a few bad shots and it looked like he was legitimately hurt, but the buzzer saved him.
Round 2: Petr Yan started the second round more confidently. Yan tried to land a few kicks while Aldo attempted an inside kick of his own. It became a showcase of kicks in the first two minutes before Petr Yan threw a body shot. The Russian immediately switched stances after eating a leg kick. The Brazilian kept moving forward and utilizing his kicks, landing one to the body. The round ended with a trade of strikes.
Round 3: Petr Yan opened with the southpaw. It could have been something to do with the effect of those leg kicks. Aldo attempted a combination before lightly eating a body kick. Petr Yan ate a body shot and then a couple of more while being warned over his extended fingers. Aldo was finding quite some success early on with the body shots and backed Yan to the cage before pushing forward. The next minute saw neither land too much and they were evenly matched at this point. It became a masterclass of evasion but Aldo ate a light spinning back elbow. Yan began to find success in the final minute before Aldo stalled him in the clinch.
Round 4: Jose Aldo evaded some big offense as the numbers were quite close. Halfway into the round, only three significant strikes separated them. Petr Yan attempted a flying knee and pushed Aldo back as the Brazilian began to slow down. Petr Yan landed a big right on Aldo and tripped him down. He was in a tough position as Petr Yan tried to pass the guard and land strikes on him. Aldo closed the guard to control Petr Yan but still ate a heavy shot. Petr Yan won a decisive round.
Round 5: Petr Yan landed a beautiful right and got Jose Aldo down within 30 seconds of the round. Petr Yan mounted him and tried to get the elbow. He continued the shots on Aldo, who was in a terrible position. He isolated Aldo's right arm and the Brazilian was in a terrible position. Yan kept landing heavy shots and the referee was waiting to stop the fight. Elbows and fists were in plenty for Jose Aldo, whose face was painted in blood. Petr Yan, at 27 years old, finally stopped the legend to become the undisputed UFC Bantamweight Champion.
An extremely late stoppage that went two minutes longer than necessary. But an incredible and inevitable title win for the Russian Petr Yan.
Result: Petr Yan def. Jose Aldo via TKO to become the NEW Undisputed UFC Bantamweight Champion ( Rd 5, 3:24)
#2. Alexander Volkanovski (c) vs Max Holloway - UFC Featherweight Championship
Round 1: Alexander Volkanovski started with a smile on his face, more confident than ever. The Champion Volkanovski moved forward and landed a leg kick, which was the biggest tool for his title win. Max Holloway hit a leg kick of his own but Volkanovski attacked his leg as well. Holloway's lead leg started to get red early on. Max Holloway got a nice right hand and taunted him before hitting a body shot. He went for a flying knee attempt before being neutralized and ate a right hand in the process. The two exchanged leg kicks at the same time and the final thirty seconds of the fight saw Holloway land a vicious head kick to secure the first round on the scorecards.
Round 2: Max Holloway started early on with an amazing combination. The challenger attacked the inside leg of Volkanovski, seemingly looking for "revenge" from the first fight. He was pushing forward and the trade of leg kicks saw Volkanovski switch stances. The Champion started to fight back in the final minute, but apart from leg kicks, he was down on the numbers. Volkanovski avoided a head kick but got knocked down with an uppercut. It was 2-0 Holloway at this point.
Round 3: Holloway had 135 strikes thrown before round three even began. A nice knee pushed Holloway back. Alexander Volkanovski shot for a takedown, but the Hawaiian's takedown defense proved fruitful. Max Holloway had another solid round outstriking Volkanovski. But it was a better round for the Champion.
Round 4: Alexander Volkanovski didn't fire back with a sense of urgency, but the fourth round started with a great exchange of strikes. The Champion started doing better in the fourth round and took Max Holloway down, only for the challenger to stand up. Volkanovski had another entry for a takedown but wasn't able to do so.
Round 5: The final round saw Alexander Volkanovski move forward with a flurry. Alexander Volkanovski pressed Max Holloway against the fence, but it wasn't enough to take him down. Volkanovski did a lot better as a whole in the fifth round and turned on the pressure. The final 10 seconds of the fight saw Volkanovski get a late takedown.
Result: Alexander Volkanovski def. Max Holloway via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) to retain the UFC Featherweight Championship
#1. Kamaru Usman (c) vs Jorge Masvidal - UFC Welterweight Championship
Round 1: Jorge Masvidal started with a series of kicks and strikes. Kamaru Usman caught him right away and took him down - exactly where the Champion wanted him. Masvidal began to stand up and escaped as Usman had his head locked in. Masvidal hit Usman with a nice knee to the body. Usman had him up against the fence and went for the single leg but Gamebred managed to keep him at bay.
Jorge Masvidal hit some knees but an elbow separated the two. Masvidal got a kick to the body and a solid right. A jab from Usman saw him eat the left hook in the process. Kamaru Usman tried to find his way inside but Masvidal did a good job of preventing that from happening. A huge opening round for Masvidal. A clash of heads saw Masvidal get cut.
Round 2: Kamaru Usman went charging like a bull for a takedown but Masvidal did great to prevent the takedown. Masvidal was smiling as Usman was pressing him against the fence. Masvidal turned it around momentarily but Usman pressed him again. Masvidal hit some shots to break it up before Usman landed a clean one himself.
Masvidal seemed to be giving the round away and conserved his energy as he got cut again. Masvidal tried to use his shoulder for the break and when he did, they went for an exchange. The Champion secured the second round.
Round 3: Masvidal landed an inside leg kick. Kamaru Usman once again went for the takedown. He stuffed 7 of the 8 attempts but the Champion kept the pressure, stomping his toes. A glancing low blow by Kamaru Usman halted the fight and referee Marc Goddard warned Usman.
Kamaru Usman had a beautiful entry, dipping under a punch and landing a clean takedown on Masvidal. He landed another big takedown and pinned Masvidal down without landing much offense.
Round 4: As with every other Kamaru Usman fight, he pushed Jorge Masvidal against the fence and stomped his foot and hit him to the body. When Usman went for another entry to a takedown, it looked like Jorge Masvidal was going for the guillotine, but his hands were separated fast. Masvidal managed to separate the clinch but he was evidently slower. Kamaru Usman landed a vicious left hook but it didn't seem to affect Masvidal at all.
In the final minute of the round, Usman and Masvidal were in the clinch and it seemed to be 3-1 to the Champion.
Round 5: Jorge Masvidal got a counter shot but as always, Kamaru Usman secured a takedown. Kamaru Usman was in full control and Masvidal still tried to wriggle his way out, unable to do so.
Kamaru Usman had Jorge Masvidal's head wrapped in his hands. Masvidal pushed him away and started going for some vicious strikes. The two didn't seem to like each other more after the fight, but they respectfully shook hands.
Result: Kamaru Usman defeated Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision () to retain the UFC Welterweight Championship
