UFC 261 this weekend has Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal in a welterweight showdown as the main event. Usman has already beaten Masvidal in a title match, but he’s looking to silence any pundits who think it was a fluke. The reigning champion is a significant betting favorite, and it’s hard to bet against him, given his recent performances in the octagon.
Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal will be duking it out for the welterweight title on UFC 261. Usman and Masvidal have already met in the octagon once before, with the fight going Usman’s way by unanimous decision. The best UFC betting sites predict that Usman will destroy Masvidal, as legal sports betting sites have him as a significant betting favorite. Usman, also known as “The Nigerian Nightmare,” hasn’t lost a fight in forever and is fresh off a victory against Gilbert Burns, who, interestingly, is connected to the first match between Usman and Masvidal. The first time Usman and Masvidal met in the octagon was because Burns dropped out of the fight due to COVID-19, forcing Masvidal to step in last minute. As I said before, Usman won that fight decisively, but the champ was eager for a rematch almost immediately. According to Usman, since Masvidal stepped in last minute, he wants to make sure that any doubters are silenced. Although it does indicate a slight lack of confidence on Usman’s part, it’s a fair concern. Still, Usman is the reigning champion for a reason, and although Masvidal is a formidable fighter, I don’t see their rematch this weekend going his way. Masvidal hasn’t fought since his first match against Usman, so he’ll most likely be a bit rustier in the octagon. MMA betting sites in NJ offer good betting value if you roll with Masvidal, with his best money line odds listed at +310 on Borgata. For more odds and markets, check out the NJ sportsbook reviews. Masvidal doesn’t get knocked out or lose by submission often, so if Usman wins, which I think he will, it’ll be by points. Fanduel has those odds listed at -120, which is much more attractive than his straight-up money line odds of -400.
Masvidal is a great fighter, and he’s tough as nails, but Usman’s striking will present problems for him, as it did in their first bout. My prediction: Usman wins by unanimous decision.
