Welterweight title-holder Kamaru Usman defeated Brazilian Gilbert Burns and retained the title at UFC 258 on February 13.

Usman set a record for the most consecutive victories at welterweight

The first round of the clash was clearly Usman’s. He controlled the octagon and landed 41% more significant strikes. In the second heat, The Nigerian Nightmare ramped up the pace and dominated on the feet. He outnumbered Gilbert’s power shots almost 2 to 1 and dropped Burns down with a jab. At the beginning of the third round, Kamaru opened up with a strong jab, which sent Gilbert crashing to the canvas. The champion landed heavy punches on the ground, and referee Keith Peterson had no other choice but to stop the action at 00:36. As a result, Kamaru won by TKO and defended his gold.

Both athletes have solid grappling backgrounds, but neither of them has tried to initiate wrestling exchanges. The contest, as expected, was a kickboxing match. Usman perfectly used his 5-inch reach advantage. He kept a distance, set things up with a jab and looked fantastic on the feet. The champion gained 13th victory in a row, setting a record for the most consecutive wins in the 170-pound division. The UFC has yet to announce a list of fighters to get bonuses. However, Kamaru will likely pocket a $50,000 prize for the best performance.

The Nigerian Nightmare beat Tyron Woodley and earned the UFC belt in Match 2019. He defeated Colby Covington by TKO in December 2019. Last year, Kamaru retained the gold for the second time against Jorge Masvidal. Usman dominated throughout the clash and took 4 of 5 rounds, scoring a victory by unanimous decision.