Kamaru Usman defeated Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision in Sunday morning’s UFC 251 headliner on “Fight Island” to remain the undisputed UFC welterweight champion.
The judges scored the bout 50-45, 50-45 and 49-46 for Usman.
The victory was Usman’s 12th consecutive in the UFC, tying Khabib Nurmagomedov for the promotion’s longest active winning streak. The win by Usman (17-1) also tied him with Georges St-Pierre for the longest streak in UFC welterweight history.
The fight took place on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island — dubbed “Fight Island” for a monthlong slate of UFC events — and came together only in the past week. Gilbert Burns, who was Usman’s scheduled opponent, tested positive for COVID-19 on July 3, just hours before the UFC charter was set to leave Las Vegas for Abu Dhabi. The UFC was able to come to terms with Masvidal (35-14), who balked at the promotion’s initial offer for the fight two months ago.