UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (19-4-0) took the best shots of Gilbert Burns (18-1-0), and then eventually settled down and returned fire that went unanswered in the third round at UFC 258 Saturday night.
Burns started off fast, going right after the champion scoring with jabs and uppercuts that dazed Usman.
ROCKED! BURNS HAS THE CHAMP REELING! #UFC258 pic.twitter.com/HvPkyhYM7S
— UFC (@ufc) February 14, 2021
But Usman recovered, near the end of the round and in the second round, landed a right jab that stunned Burns. In the third and final round, Usman was in clinical mode, timing pinpoint strikes including another right that sent Burns to the deck again. Follow up strikes forced referee Herb Dean to call the bout at 34 seconds.
MY GOODNESS! The champ smells blood in the water 😳 #UFC258 pic.twitter.com/POk5EsdvND
— UFC (@ufc) February 14, 2021
With the impressive win, Usman broke George St-Pierre’s 12-fight consecutive win streak in the welterweight division, while defending his title for the third time.
Burns suffered his fourth loss Saturday night and was visibly emotional after the fight, being consoled by his trainer in the octagon, while Usman watched on. They finally embraced in a show of sportsmanship.
“I got over-excited,” Burns said in the post-fight press conference. “I cannot make those mistakes. I just want to be like Robbie Lawler … he lost to Johny Hendricks and then got right back, became a champion.”
Usman, Alexander Hernandez, Polyana Viana, and Juan Marquez all earned performance of the night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus. There was no Fight of the Night awarded.
UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS
GABRIEL GREEN VS. PHILIP ROWE
Gifted 🙏@GiftedGabeGreen notches his 1️⃣st UFC victory to open #UFC258. pic.twitter.com/xgKTfpk01k
— UFC (@ufc) February 14, 2021
WINNER: GABRIEL GREEN VIA UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: PHILIP ROWE VIA TKO
Andrews: Good job by Green, using aggression and chopping down the legs of Rowe so he couldn’t get much of anything going.
UFC 258 PRELIMS
ANDRE EWELL VS. CHRIS GUTIERREZ
TAKING OVER 👀
👊 @CGutierrezMMA is taking complete ownership of the final round. #UFC258 pic.twitter.com/QIS2GHhdcy
— UFC (@ufc) February 14, 2021
WINNER: CHRIS GUTTIERREZ VIA UD (30-26, 29-28, 29-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ANDRE EWELL VIA UD
Andrews: Ewell’s 8-inch reach advantage didn’t factor much in the bout. Couldn’t get the heel hook. Meanwhile, Guttierrez kept the pressure on him and fought his fight.
POLYANA VIANA VS. MALLORY MARTIN
Wouldn't be denied 😤
🇧🇷 @Polyana_VianaDF locks in the RD 1 armbar!
[ #UFC258 prelims – LIVE on @ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/drNoJII8ld
— UFC (@ufc) February 14, 2021
WINNER: POLYANA VIANA VIA SUBMISSION (ARMBAR) R1 3:!8
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MALLORY MARTIN VIA UD
Andrews: Martin made a big mistake by not keeping the fight standing as I mentioned and Viana secured the tap, alternating between the triangle and the armbar. Good win.
#13 BELAL MUHAMMAD VS. DHIEGO LIMA
Just not giving Lima a second to breathe 😳 #UFC258 pic.twitter.com/VRSCxwXYVj
— UFC (@ufc) February 14, 2021
WINNER: BELAL MUHAMMAD VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: BELAL MUHAMMAD VIA UD
Andrews: Muhammad did what Muhammad does.
RODOLFO VIERA VS. ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ
SIMPLY INCREDIBLE!@ILovebamf SUBMITS a jiu-jitsu WORLD CHAMPION in RD 2️⃣. #UFC258 pic.twitter.com/bdH80dxzGA
— UFC (@ufc) February 14, 2021
WINNER: ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ VIA SUBMISSION (GUILLOTINE CHOKE) R2 1:53
ANDREWS PREDICTION: RODOLFO VIERA VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: Boy, did Hernandez keep the fight standing. Almost got tapped in the first, but comes back to wobble the BJJ champ and then the excellent guillotine!
MAIN CARD
MAKI PITOLO VS. JULIAN MARQUEZ
WELCOME BACK.
🚀 @JMarquezMMA completes the 2.5 year comeback!
[ LIVE on #ESPNPlus PPV: https://t.co/BCod56c8ey ] pic.twitter.com/8dgm0dd640
— UFC (@ufc) February 14, 2021
WINNER: JUAN MARQUEZ VIA SUBMISSION (ANACONDA CHOKE) R3 4:17
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JUAN MARQUEZ VIA TKO
Andrews: Pitolo fought like he was desparate for a win and nearly got it by decision. But Marquez makes the big comeback with the tap. Great fight.
RICKY SIMON VS. BRIAN KELLEHER
30-27, x3!
🤚 @RickySimonUFC gets it done at #UFC258. pic.twitter.com/isFnkuHmOP
— UFC (@ufc) February 14, 2021
WINNER: RICKY SIMON VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: RICKY SIMON VIA UD
Andrews: Simon just outworked Kelleher. Good win.
KELVIN GASTELUM VS. IAN HEINISCH
Massive takedown!
🇺🇸🇲🇽 @KelvinGastelum is looking to finsh RD 3 in dominant position. #UFC258 pic.twitter.com/xzXyu0XKhb
— UFC (@ufc) February 14, 2021
WINNER: KELVIN GASTELUM VIA UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: KELVIN GASTELUM VIA UD
Andrews: Gastelum’s flabby-looking weigh-in fooled many, including myself. He looked good, no cardio problems and fought intelligently. Good win.
#10 MAYCEE BARBER VS. #15 ALEXA GRASSO
GRASSO ROCKED HER 😱 #UFC258 pic.twitter.com/yIW1yTnRDs
— UFC (@ufc) February 14, 2021
WINNER: ALEXA GRASSO VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ALEXA GRASSO VIA UD
Andrews: Grasso held off Barber at the end. Good win for Grasso, but she needs to keep improving.
MAIN EVENT
KAMARU USMAN VS. GILBERT BURNS
Win or lose, the chase for the belt means everything 🏆 #UFC258 pic.twitter.com/oO8wWVl0Lh
— UFC (@ufc) February 14, 2021
WINNER: KAMARU USMAN VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R3 0:34
ANDREWS PREDICTION: KAMARU USMAN VIA UD
JOHN SALVITTI PREDICTION: KAMARU USMAN VIA UD
Andrews: Wow! Burns did the right thing going right after Usman and things looked scary early. But with the heart of a champion, Usman settled down and turned the tables. Very impressive stuff from both fighters and the Nigerian Nightmare sent a big statement to the rest of the division tonight.
