Kamaru Usman defeats Gilbert Burns via TKO in round three, makes third defense of UFC welterweight championship
The UFC stays in Las Vegas, Nevada for the second straight week tonight, February 13, 2021, as UFC 258 gets started on ESPN+ for the early preliminary card, then carries over to ESPN for the preliminary card, before the main card goes down live on pay-per-view.
Headlining the event will be a much anticipated welterweight showdown between UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and No. 1 ranked UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns.
Usman has been the dominant champion many of us predicted he’d become, and he only needs one more victory to break the greatest of all-time, Georges St-Pierre’s record. ‘GSP’ won 12 straight in the welterweight division during his second title reign, which also included winning an interim title.
‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ is so dominant in fact, the only man to win a round over him was Colby Covington, who won two, or three rounds against him, depending on who you ask. Nonetheless, Usman finished him off in round five via TKO, making the totals useless.
Gilbert Burns however may be the man to give Usman his toughest test to date. Burns is a four-time world champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and his striking, as well as his power have become equally as dangerous. Burns isn’t someone Usman should want to use his wrestling against, but how does he win this fight on the feet?
Continue reading to see how this long awaiting welterweight championship bout went down:
Round 1
Where to start in this round, man, where to start. Burns opens up the bout by immediately taking the center and before long lands a thunderous overhand right that drops the champion, stunning him badly.
Burns also landed a nice head kick, but ended up on his back for his efforts.
Usman lands some nice strikes to the downed Burns’ body from a standing position, and landed a number of nice leg kicks as well. Burns eventually makes his way back to his feet and lands a knee to Usman’s face.
Usman starts to find his jab toward the end of the round, until Burns lands another nice hard combination before the round ends.
Round 2
Burns opens round two just the same as round one, pressuring Usman with a violent array of strikes. He momentarily stuns the champion once again, before Usman pulled back with a beautiful right cross that hurt Burns.
Usman was teeing off on Burns for a hot second there, but Burns was able to recover and finish out the round.
Usman really starts finding his straight punches in this round.
Round 3
Usman dropped Burns with another jab to start round three and reigns down some vicious ground-and-pound to get the stoppage about 30 seconds in. He breaks Georges St-Pierre’s record for the longest win streak in the UFC’s welterweight division. ‘GSP’ has 12, Usman now has 13.
Official Result: Kamaru Usman def. Gilbert Burns via TKO at 34 seconds of round three
