Usman Wants Title Shot Following Victory
Years after feeling like he’s been overlooked and undermined, Kamaru Usman took years of frustration out on a fighter who was once in his precarious position.
Kamaru Usman (14-1, 9-0 UFC) dominated Rafael Dos Anjos (28-11, 17-9 UFC) in a one-sided unanimous decision victory on Friday night at the Pearl Theatre at Palms Casino Resort.
Few fighters have a mean streak quite like Kamaru Usman, who said coming into this fight he was going to “make it look easy” in dispatching of Rafael Dos Anjos.
Even with the fight in hand, Usman kept the pressure on, looking for a finish on the ground and on the feet, particularly in the final two rounds as he overpowered the No. 3 ranked fighter in the welterweight division.
The winner of Season 21 of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ dominated the action for much of the fight against a crafty veteran who knows what it takes to win UFC gold.
With his forward pressure, work against the fence in the clinch, and always looking for the takedown, the “Nigerian Nightmare” broke down the former world champion.
There was a moment of anxiety for Usman in the early going, as Dos Anjos sunk in a kimura in the second round from the bottom against Usman against the fence, only to see Usman scramble out of danger as the two brawled to end the round.
Outside of that, this was as effortless a performance as we’ve seen out of the 31-year-old Blackzilian.
Kamaru Usman landed a career-best 11 takedowns in this fight while landing 190 total strikes.
Usman is now 9-0 in the octagon, and you can count on one hand how many rounds he’s lost. Dominant performances of this magnitude deserve a reward, a reward such as a shot at UFC welterweight kingpin Tyron Woodley sometime in 2019.
Get it done UFC.
TUF 28 Season Winners Crowned
The TUF 28 Finale saw winners crowned for the heavyweight and Women’s featherweight tournaments.
Macy Chiasson’s long and storied road through ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ saw her put together her best performance of the tournament. Chiasson finished her teammate Pannie Kianzad by 2nd-Round submission as she used a rear-naked choke to take home a six-figure contract with the UFC.
For the heavyweights, it didn’t take long for Juan Francisco Espino Dieppa to put away fellow finalist Justin Frazier, as after getting a takedown quickly in the first round, used a straight armbar to force his opponent to tap out three minutes and 36 seconds into round.
Espino Dieppa, 38, is the oldest fighter to win the Ultimate Fighter.
TUF 28 Finale Results
Pedro Munhoz finishes Bryan Caraway quickly in Round 1 by TKO
Edmen Shahbazyan grapples his way to unanimous decision over Darren Stewart
Antonina Shevchenko out-strikes Ji Yeon Kim by unanimous decision
Kevin Aguilar picks up unanimous decision triumph in war against Rick Glenn
Roosevelt Roberts gets Darrell Horcher to tap out to standing guillotine in Round 1
Joseph Benavidez topples Alex Perez with TKO finish in Round 1
Maurice Greene uses triangle choke to finish Michel Batista in Round 1
Leah Letson wins bloody split-decision war over Julia Stoliarenko
Tim Means punishes Ricky Rainey with ground and pound in TKO finish in Round 1
Raoni Barcelos uses rear-naked choke to stop Chris Gutierrez in Round 2 submission victory
What are your biggest takeaways from TUF 28 Finale? Leave your comments below!
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