Five reasons to watch UFC 251, with three title fights and Brazilian squad

K. Usman (left) and J. Masvidal (right) facing the UFC 251. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Time to make history. This Saturday (11), in Abu Dhabi, Ultimate will put on a true spectacle for MMA lovers. With 13 fights scheduled, the organization will promote three title fights and present a Brazilian squad at the event that marks the debut of the already famous 'Ilha da Luta'.

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In the last three fights, the bantamweight (up to 61,2kg), featherweight (up to 65,7kg) and welterweight (up to 77kg) titles will be on the line. José Aldo, Petr yan, Alexander Volkanovsky, Max Holloway, Kamaru Usman e Jorge masvidal will be responsible for starring in the main presentations of the night.

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In addition to the title fights, Brazilian fans have plenty of reasons to get excited. Before Aldo's presentation, seven other Brazilians will have set foot in the octagon set up in the United Arab Emirates.

The event is scheduled to start at 19pm (Brasília time) with the preliminary card. The main fights start around 23pm (Brasília time).

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To get in the mood, our team selected five reasons to follow the UFC 251. Check out:

Premiere of 'Ilha da Luta'

UFC 251 will promote the debut of events on 'Ilha da Luta'. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

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It took a while, but it arrived. July 11th will go down in MMA history as the day the UFC reopened its doors so that non-United States athletes could perform in the octagon.

When Dana White and his team chose to suspend Ultimate's activities in April, due to the pandemic, the 'boss' always made it clear that he would be the first promoter to return with mixed martial arts attractions.

The president not only kept his promise but also rented a space in Abu Dhabi to receive fighters from other countries and hold shows awaited by fans.

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The promotion took place majestically. Four cards were announced with four title fights involved. This Saturday, therefore, the kickoff will be given.

Usman x Masvidal: promise of war

Masvidal (left) faces Usman (right) in the UFC 251. Photo: SUPER FIGHTS montage

After winning the controversial Colby covington in his first title defense, Kamaru Usman will have the challenge of facing another great rival in their next commitment. The 'Nigerian Nightmare' will face the 'Bad-Boy', Jorge masvidal, who accepted the tough task of facing, at the last minute, the champion after Gilbert Durinho being removed from the card for testing positive for COVID-19.

The meeting between Usman and Jorge had been negotiated since the beginning of the year, however, the UFC was faced with financial issues to seal the clash. After making public his dissatisfaction with the payment proposed by Ultimate, Masvidal withdrew from the confrontation, giving way to Durinho, who is in a great phase in his career, having beaten Tyron woodley in his last fight and taking first place in the category ranking.

With Gilbert out, it was up to the UFC to give in and contact 'Jesus das Ruas' so that one of the title fights would not be removed from the event. Within a day, Ultimate and Masvidal reached an agreement and the athlete agreed to try to take the Nigerian's position.

Rematch between Volkanovski and Holloway

A. Volkanovski (left) and M. Holloway (right) have a rematch at UFC 251. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

When Max Holloway shocked the world and defeated José Aldo by knockout on two occasions (in 2017), winning the linear featherweight belt, many thought that a man had emerged to surpass the Brazilian's achievements in the category. The Hawaiian, in fact, achieved undisputed victories in the division and even defended his title on three occasions.

What few imagined was that, in December last year, at least UFC 245, Holloway would see his reign crumble in his encounter with Alexander Volkanovsky. The underdog in the match, the Australian was not aware of Max at the time and ended up overcoming his opponent in a unanimous decision by the judges.

Now, the combatants were placed face to face again for revenge. While Volkanovski wants to prove that his success was not luck, Max remains firm in the idea of regaining his status as champion.

Aldo x Yan: a new king among bantamweights

P. Yan (left) and J. Aldo (right) will face each other in the fight for the vacant bantamweight title. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Saturday will also be the day to meet the successor to the throne of Henry Cejudo. Retired since May this year, the American abandoned his post after defeating the iconic Dominick Cruz, UFC 249, thus opening space for two athletes to duel for the belt

The chosen ones were the dangerous Petr yan and the world-renowned José Aldo, which debuted among the roosters in December last year.

Even though he was defeated in his debut in the new category, the man from Manaus managed to catch the eyes of the Ultimate board due to his performance against Marlon moraes and won one of the spots.

Undefeated since his debut in the UFC, Yan, who was Aldo's training partner in the past, the Russian, today, occupies third place in the division's rankings and has not known what it's like to lose since 2016, he was defeated for the first and only time in 15 presentations.

The weekend could also mark history for Brazil, if José emerges victorious in the dispute. The Manauara man will have the chance to become the first Brazilian, among men, to be champion in two different categories and will join Vitor belfort, Rafael dos Anjos, Lyoto Machida, who won titles with the organization, but failed in their attempts in other divisions.

Aldo will also have the opportunity to end his fate of more than three years without a male representative as champion. The last owner of a linear belt was Manauara himself, in 2017, when he was beaten by Holloway.

Brazilian squad

Brazil will have eight representatives in the UFC 251. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

O UFC 251 It will also serve as a way for Brazilian fans to miss some athletes who were prevented from fighting in North American Ultimate events, due to travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This weekend, there will be eight athletes selected to represent Brazil in the United Arab Emirates.

In the second fight, a confrontation that will divide the Tupiniquim fans. Representatives of the roosters, Karol Rosa e Vanessa melo They will be responsible for stirring up the public and will exchange forces in search of victories in their cartels.

Shortly thereafter, Raulian paiva will try to achieve his second consecutive victory since his debut with the company. With two defeats and a triumph, the Amapá native stated that the confrontation against Zhalgas Zhumagulov will serve to silence many critics who doubt his ability. The fighter is coming off a great victory over Mark De La Rosa, in February this year.

Undefeated in the UFC, Leo Santos He will be another Brazilian to step into the Octagon. A representative of the lightweight division, the Rio native is making his 7th appearance for Ultimate and arrives with the responsibility of maintaining a streak of 12 fights without losing. At 40 years old, Santos will face the newcomer Roman Bogatov, who never lost in 10 appearances as a professional in MMA.

Elizeu Capoeira ends Brazilian participation in the preliminary card. The fighter, who comes from a positive result against Alexey Kunchenko, in UFC Brasilia, in March, wants to resume his path towards the top of the welterweight division after losing to li jingliang, in August last year. Capoeira will face the dangerous muslim salikhov, who comes from three consecutive victories.

In the fight that opens the main card, the promising Amanda ribas will make its second appearance in 2020. Coming off a victory over Randa markos, UFC Brasilia, the Brazilian hopes to maintain her unbeaten record in the organization. Minas Gerais from Varginha, the flyweight (up to 52,1kg.) agreed to move up a division to face the famous paige vanzant, who is having his last fight under his contract and needs to win for a possible renewal.

O UFC 251 it will also mark a reunion night. In the second fight of the main card, the former strawweight champions, Jessica Stacker e Rose namajunas will share the octagon again just over a year after their first clash, in UFC 237. On that occasion, the Brazilian shocked the world by brutalizing the North American with a devastating knockout in the second round. Now, the athletes return to fight in search of a chance to challenge the current owner of the belt, Weili Zhang.