Kamaru Usman on Sunday retained his welterweight title after beating Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251 in Abu Dhabi.
The Nigeria-born was declared the winner via a unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) at Flash Forum to top the card at the Fight Island opener.
Masvidal took the fight on just six days’ notice after original contender Gilbert Burns was forced off the card with coronavirus.
He also took to the Octagon without his head coach Mike Brown, who also contracted Covid-19 this week.
Usman, who has now tied George Pierre’s UFC welterweight record of 12 straight victories, is the Ultimate Fighter 21 tournament winner.
He is also number six in the UFC men’s pound-to-pound rankings.
