Nigeria’s Usman Sets Record In Welterweight Title Defence Win

Nigeria’s Kamaru Usman recorded a third-round knockout win over Gilbert Burns to retain his welterweight title at UFA 258 at the Apex facility in Las Vegas.

The win took Usman’s career record to 18-1, including a 13-fight winning streak in the UFC which is an all-time record at welterweight in the promotion, with Usman passing longtime record-holder Georges St-Pierre in the victory over Burns.

Both fighters were involved in a back-and-forth chess match that turned into one of Usman’s best performances yet.

The Nigerian Nightmare initiated an intense staredown with his former sparring partner before the fight. With some speculation about the relationship between the two former teammates, the stage was set for an epic showdown.

It was Burns who came out with intensity from the opening and landed an overhand right that wobbled Usman and set the stage for a slugfest.

After the initial setback Usman adjusted in the second round, and after fighting with his jab as his primary weapon in the first round he finally picked a spot to uncork a right hand of his own and he had Burns hurt.

Usman once again caught Burns and floored him but this time went for finish. He swarmed with strikes until Herb Dean was forced to call an end to the bout 34 seconds into the round.

Speaking after the win Usman said:“That was the thing with me, even when I first kind of started and was striking, it was a lot of that Dutch kickboxing. It gets you tough and lets you defend a lot of shots.

“I wanted to work that southpaw, and I wanted to work that jab. I just worked it, and worked it a lot. [Coach Trevor Wittman] said, ‘You need to stay on that jab. you have a freaking good jab.”