UFC recently added a huge match to the UFC 251 card in Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal after Gilbert Burns tested positive for Covid-19.
UFC Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman was scheduled to defend his title against no.1 contender Gilbert Burns. However, Burns tested positive for Coronavirus leaving Usman without an opponent. That was until a new main event for UFC 251 in Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal was announced.
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Masvidal, who has been in the middle of a contract dispute with the UFC, was the subject of praise from Dana White for stepping up when it mattered most. Speaking with TMZ, the UFC president called him brilliant for sliding into the main event of UFC 251.
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“It’s like the (Justin) Gaethje and Tony Ferguson fight. Gaethje saw the opportunity and took it. It was brilliant of Masvidal to slide in after Gilbert Burns tested positive,” White said.
“Gilbert Burns is the No. 1 ranked guy in the world. It was a great fight, it fell out. The fight the people want to see, the people’s fight, is this fight. it was absolutely brilliant of Masvidal to slide into this spot and take the fight.”
When asked if contract negotiations were difficult, White said: “Yeah, this is what we do, man. We’ve been doing this for 20 years. It’s all part of the deal.” Masvidal himself has said that while he didn’t get the money he wanted, it was still close.
Masvidal was originally scheduled to face Usman for the Welterweight title. Fans were eager to see the two men tear each other apart especially after their heated confrontation during Super Bowl week. However, Masvidal pulled out following disagreements over his pay.
Gilbert Burns was chosen to replace him in the fight and in a strange twist of fate, Masvidal has replaced him now.
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