When is UFC 251?
UFC 251 returns Saturday 12th July, with a stacked fight card including three title fights.
The show will be headlined by Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman facing off against Gilbert Burns.
The pair have been lifelong training partners and teammates, with nothing but respect shared between the two as they head into unfamiliar territory. The second title fight will be a rematch of December’s thrilling battle between Alexander Volkanovski and Featherweight royalty Max Holloway for the 145-pound belt.
The final title fight of the evening is between Petr Yan and José Aldo for the vacant Bantamweight title.
Where is UFC 251 taking place?
The event will take place on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The event is the first of the UFC cards being held on the island, with the promotion dubbing the series of fight cards in the region as on “Fight Island”. Rumours are rife that they really are going to be putting an Octagon on the beach.
A huge safe zone featuring the arena, hotel, training facilities, and dining establishments open only to the events personnel will be enforced on the island to ensure the event complies with all Coronavirus safety guidelines.
UFC 251 Fight Card
The UFC has brought one of the most exciting cards of the year to Fight Island, with three title fights taking the forefront. In addition to the title fights, there is action from the women’s divisions with Rose Namajunas facing off against Jéssica Andrade plus an Octagon return for Instagram model Paige VanZant.
The full fight card is as follows:
Main Card
Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns (Welterweight title)
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway (Featherweight title)
José Aldo vs. Petr Yan (Bantamweight title)
Jessica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas (Women’s Strawweight)
Amanda Ribas vs. Paige VanZant (Women’s Flyweight)
Preliminary Card
Volkan Oezdemir vs. Jiří Procházka (Light Heavyweight)
Elizeu Zaleksi dos Santos vs Muslim Salikhov (Welterweight)
Makwan Amirkhani vs Danny Henry (Featherweight)
Leonardo Santos vs Roman Bogatov (Lightweight)
Early Prelims
Marcin Tybura vs Alexander Romanov (Heavyweight)
Raulian Paiva vs Zhalgas Zhumagulov (Flyweight)
Karol Rosa vs Vanessa Melo (Woman’s Bantamweight)
Davey Grant vs Martin Day (Bantamweight)
UFC 251 Fight Tips
Kamaru Usman vs Gilbert Burns
The reigning champion Usman enters UFC 251 on a 15-fight win streak and is fresh off a TKO victory over Colby Covington at UFC 245 in December.
Brazilian Burns is coming into this one on a six-fight winning streak, after defeating Woodley via decision in a dominating performance in May.
Usman is likely to be the fresher fighter coming into this one and would expect his physical power and striking to be too much for Burns.
Prediction: Kamaru Usman to win
Alexander Volkanovski vs Max Holloway
Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway gets a chance of redemption as he takes on Volkanovski after losing the featherweight title to him back in December at UFC 245. Prior to this loss, Holloway had successfully defended the championship three times.
The first fight between these two wasn’t close at all, with Volkanovski battering Holloway with leg kicks and out-striking him throughout the first three rounds. However, by the time the fourth round began, Holloway started to check those kicks and switched his stance, which caused Volkanovski problems.
Unfortunately for Holloway, it was too late in the fight to impact the result. However, if Holloway has a plan to deal with those kicks from the off in this bout, he should be in a good position to reclaim gold.
Prediction: Max Holloway to win
