Report: Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns At UFC 256, Masvidal vs. Diaz II Potentially At UFC 257
One huge title fight could be coming to the UFC 256 card: Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns, while a previously reported Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz fight for UFC 256 will possibly take place at UFC 257 according to Ariel Helwani of ESPN.
The Usman-Burns date is 12/12, per TMZ’s report. Same night as Amanda Nunes-Megan Anderson. So that would round out the UFC’s 2020 PPV schedule, and they’d like to start 2021, if all goes to plan, w/ the Masvidal-Diaz rematch. Will be interesting to see if they try to do w/fans.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 1, 2020
A UFC welterweight title fight between Usman and Burns is targeted for the card, according to ESPN’s Brett Okatamoto. Gilbert Burns told Fightful’s Shakiel Mahjouri that “nothing [is] signed.” Masvidal vs. Diaz is reportedly close to being finalized and will be for the BMF title, per TMZ Sports.
UPDATE: Gilbert Burns (@GilbertDurinho) tells me “not true, nothing signed” regarding #UFC256 headliner with Kamaru Usman https://t.co/jF0z1xLAZn
— Shakiel Mahjouri (@FightShakFight) September 1, 2020
Usman (17-1-0) is going to be making the third defense of his championship, previously defending it against former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington and the aforementioned Masvidal. Burns (19-3-0) was originally set to challenge Usman for the title at UFC 251, but was pulled from the card after a positive coronavirus test.
Masvidal (35-14-0) is making the first defense of his BMF Championship, which the fighter won by scoring a third round TKO over Diaz in their first meeting at UFC 244. Diaz (20-12-0) hasn’t competed since the first meeting with Masvidal and has only won one fight in the last four years.
UFC 256 is scheduled for Saturday, December 12 from a location to be announced with Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which streams live on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
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