And still UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman capped off UFC 258 in emphatic fashion in the form of a third-round TKO over former-teammate Gilbert Burns in the evening's main event. Usman wasn't done there and called out "fake Jesus" Jorge Masvidal after the fight — Fightful has you covered on what the champ had to say following the biggest win of his career as well as all of the fallout from the rest of UFC 258.
Kamaru Usman Sends Warning To Jorge Masvidal, Calls Out Georges St. Pierre And Thanks Gilbert Burns
Following successfully defending his title against former teammate Gilbert Burns in the main event of UFC 258, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman had plenty to say.
Usman (18-1) first took to Twitter to thank his former teammate Gilbert Burns, calling him the next best in the division.
You deserved to be in there with me. You’re the next best in the division -------- @gilbert_burns pic.twitter.com/gLT3lTEv0I
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) February 14, 2021
The champ would then direct his attention towards the man he beat before Burns, the "BMF" Champion, Jorge Masvidal.
“He had a built-in excuse,” Usman said about Masvidal during his post-fight press conference. “That’s the only reason he took that fight. We tried to make that fight twice before; he said no. … He’s been saying no. The only reason he took that fight on ‘Fight Island’ is because there was a built-in excuse. He was training the whole time, but he said, ‘Oh, I only had six days’ notice so that’s why that went that way.’ Well guess what? I’ll give you a whole training camp, and this time I will stop him. I promise you."
“That’s why I was disappointed in myself that last fight, because I know I can stop him," Usman continued. "But with all the circumstances that took place, I just went out there and dominated him from start to finish. So this time I will stop him if he wants to step up, but I guaranteed you he doesn’t want to. He’s going to be quiet.”
Usman would conclude his post-fight comments by calling out who many consider the greatest welterweight of all-time, Georges St. Pierre.
“Of course I would like [to fight] Georges,” Usman said during the post-fight presser. “I don’t want Georges because of money or anything like that. I’m a competitor. I want Georges because Georges left on top. Georges can still do it. I see him training. Georges, I’m watching you.”
Dana White Thinks It's "Undeniable" That Kamaru Usman Will Surpass Georges St. Pierre As Welterweight GOAT
Following Kamaru Usman's TKO of Gilbert Burns in the main event of UFC 258, UFC President addressed what he calls the "inevitability" of Usman surpassing Georges St. Pierre as the GOAT of the UFC's 170-pound division.
“He just broke his record tonight,” White said during the post-fight press conference. “If you look at what he just did, he broke his record tonight for consecutive wins (in the welterweight division), and if this guy keeps rolling, if Usman can keep doing what he’s doing, he’s going to go down as the greatest welterweight ever. Fact."
"Just look at who he’s fought and who he has to fight here in the future, it’s undeniable that this guy will go down as the best welterweight," White claimed. "The question is, where will he go down in the history of the sport?”
Gilbert Burns Claims To Have Been "Overexcited" During UFC 258 Main Event
Top-ranked UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns came up short in his bid to claim UFC gold during the main event of UFC 258, where he was TKO'd by UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
Burns claims the main reasoning for his shortcoming was due to him getting "overexcited" during the bout, when he dropped the champion early in the first-round.
"I think I got overexcited," Burns admitted during the post-fight press conference.
“I got overexcited then (as well). If I want to become a champion I cannot make those mistakes," said Burns. "But like the way I see it right now, I just want to be like Robbie Lawler. You know, he was the only guy if I’m not wrong that lost to Johny Hendricks and then just came right back. Got a couple of wins and became a champion. That is exactly what I am going to do.”
Bobby Green Releases Statement Following Being Pulled From UFC 258 Card
UFC lightweight mainstay Bobby Green was scheduled to face fellow longtime UFC lightweight Jim Miller during the pay-per-view portion of UFC 258, however Green was suddenly pulled from the card right after the weigh-ins took place Friday morning.
UFC President, Dana White told reporters that Green collapsed backstage following the weigh-ins, but no more information was given until Green released a statement, late Friday night.
“There are three hills I have to get over in fighting,” Green stated. “1 giving blood I hate needles. 2 plans I hate heights. 3 the weight cut I was so close. … So to be clear I have air pockets in my lungs I guess and my kidneys failed I messed my back up in training I thought it was just pain from that. … Thanks for all the wonderful things you guys said. It’s crazy how (you) can get a lot of love but not the love (you) want if that makes any sense lol.”
UFC Honors Bruce Buffer With Custom Jacket
Longtime UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer is celebrating his 25th year working with the promotion.
The company honored the legendary announcer with a custom suit jacket, commemorating the 25th anniversary for Buffer.
This custom smoking jacket, worn by Bruce Buffer at #UFC258, was created to commemorate his 25 years as the Veteran Voice of the Octagon --
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 14, 2021
(via @ufc, @mykingandbay) pic.twitter.com/F1dN2hcpnt
Alexa Grasso Releases Statement Following UFC 258 Victory
UFC flyweight contender Alexa Grasso took a big step towards a title fight when she took a unanimous decision over Maycee Barber at UFC 258.
Grasso took to Instagram to thank her team and supporters after the victory.
Kelvin Gastelum "Staying Ready" For Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa Winner Following UFC 258 Victory
Former UFC middleweight title challenger Kelvin Gastelum got back on track following three consecutive losses, when he took a unanimous decision over Ian Heinisch at UFC 258.
Gastelum plans to "stay ready" for Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa, whom he hopes to face after the pair's upcoming bout.
“I’ll have to go back and talk to my team, talk to my management, talk to Dana (White), and see what the options are from here,” Gastelum said during the post-fight presser. “I did mention if anyone steps out in the Robert Whittaker-Paulo Costa fight, I’d be willing to step up if something happens to either one of those fighters.”
Anthony Hernandez Not Surprised By Submission Victory Over Rodolfo Vieira At UFC 258
Anthony Hernandez had the biggest upset victory of 2021, when he submitted 7-time BJJ world champion Rodolfo Vieira at UFC 258.
The feat came as no surprise to the 27-year old, who said he wasn't at all surprised when he pulled off the submission victory.
"I knew I was going to tap him out," Hernandez said during the post-fight press conference.
“Honestly, I don’t really follow fighting like that (or) jiu-jitsu and (expletive),” Hernandez continued. “So that really doesn’t mean too much to me. I guess it’s a big deal. A fight is a fight. When you can hit someone, (expletive) changes. It’s not jiu-jitsu. … I plan to make more history, so it’s (expletive) awesome to hear that news. It’s just the beginning.”
UFC 258 Promotional Guidelines Compliance Payouts
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman had a great night at UFC 258, successfully defending his title and was also the top earner from the UFC promotional guideline complaince payouts.
A full list of the payouts can be found below (via MMA Junkie):
Kamaru Usman: $40,000
def. Gilbert Burns: $30,000Alexa Grasso: $5,000
def. Maycee Barber: $4,000Kelvin Gastelum: $15,000
def. Ian Heinisch: $5,000Ricky Simon: $5,000
def. Brian Kelleher: $10,000Julian Marquez: $3,500
def. Maki Pitolo: $4,000Anthony Hernandez: $4,000
def. Rodolfo Vieira: $3,500Belal Muhammad: $10,000
def. Dhiego Lima: $5,000Polyana Viana: $5,000
def. Mallory Martin: $3,500Chris Gutierrez: $5,000
def. Andre Ewell: $5,000Gabe Green: $3,500
def. Philip Rowe: $3,500
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