UFC 261 Will Welcome Back Fans

Source: UFC

UFC 261 is headlined by the rematch between welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal,l. It will be the first UFC event in over a year that will be allowed to fill up to full capacity inside the United States. The last time the UFC had fans in attendance in the US was back on March 7th for UFC 248. UFC 261 will be held at Jacksonville Florida in VyStar Veteran’s Memorial Arena on April 24 with up to 15,000-seats being available to the public.

The main event will be a grudge match between Usman and Masvidal. The two fought last July with Usman dominating the fight winning by unanimous decision.

Masvidal has claimed this rematch will go different as he now has a chance to have a full training camp while last July he took the fight on short notice with Usman’s original opponent, Gilbert Burns, had to pull out due to a positive covid-19 test.

Usman sees things differently as he stated he intends to finish this rivalry at UFC 261.

There will be two other title fights on this card to treat the fans at home and in attendance feauturing Zhang Weili. She will be defending her strawweight belt against former champion “Thug” Rose Namajunas in what will most likely be a fan friendly fight.

Also, Valentina Shevchenko’s flyweight title will be on the line as she battles the dangerous Jessica Andrade as she looks to win a title in her 2nd division.

UFC President Dana White earlier this month expressed desire to bring fans back in Texas however he ultimately wasn’t given permission to hold an event with fans inside the Lone Star’s state. White instead found a substitute in the Sunshine State of Florida.