Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal for the welterweight title is a go at UFC 251

UPDATE: Fight day odds and betting splits for Usman-Masvidal

It took a protracted negotiation, a public spat over money, and even a confrontation at the Super Bowl, but the grudge match between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal is now a go at UFC 251.

According to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, negotiations are complete and both fighters have agreed to terms. This was all necessitated by when Gilbert Burns tested positive for Covid-19 and was unable to get on the chartered flight from Las Vegas to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi last Friday. But that fight was only the replacement for what everyone wanted, which was the 16-1 champion Usman taking on Masvidal, who has a career record of 35-13 and has won six of his last eight including a TKO win over Nate Diaz in his last outing.

The bad blood between the two has been extensive, from trash-talking on social media to a clash on Radio Row during the Super Bowl in the fighter’s mutual home of South Florida. There’s a ton of dislike here and it will likely spill over into the octagon on “Fight Island.”

There are no odds posted at DraftKings yet, but in Las Vegas Circa Sports has listed the fight thusly to open:

Kamaru Usman: -290
Jorge Masvidal: +245

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