UFC 261 Preview: Fight Card & Odds [Tickets Available]

UFC is back in full swing, and it will start with UFC 261 in a full fan capacity setting. UFC president Dana White had vowed that the MMA promotion will not return to live crowds during the pandemic. White wanted there to be full fan capacity allowed for a live event in order for UFC to return.

White finally got his wish and UFC 261 will be held at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, on April 24. The event will have a full crowd meaning fans will be allowed at full capacity for the event.

UFC 261 main events will be the rematch of welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal. The two had previously fought in UFC 251 and at that time it was Usman who came out with an easy victory. In that bout, Usman easily nullified Masvidal’s offense. Now Masvidal has a chance to try again and we’ll see if he has learned from his mistakes. Usman is currently the favorite to win.

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Women’s Strawweight Title: Weili Zhang (c) vs Rose Namajunas

The card will feature current Women’s Strawweight champion Zhang battle Namajunas for the title. Zhang is currently on a 21-win streak and is the favorite to win. Zhang effortlessly captured the title by beating Jessica Andrade in just 42 seconds to win the title. Zhang then won her first title defense in UFC 248 against Joanna Jedrzejczyk, which was decided in a split decision favor for Zhang.

Namajuanas is a former strawweight champion herself. She had won the title from Jedrzejczyk in 2017. Namajuanas will look to win back the title and will face her biggest challenge yet.

Women’s Flyweight Title: Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs Jessica Andrade

Defending champion Shevchenko will be the favorite to win this bout. The champion already has four dominant wins when defending her title. Yet, Andrade is no slouch herself as she is a former Strawweight champion.

UFC 261 Fight Card:

• Kamaru Usman (c) -400 vs. Jorge Masvidal +310, Welterweight Championship
• Weili Zhang (c) -195 vs. Rose Namajunas +165, Women’s Strawweight Championship
• Valentina Shevchenko (c) -400 vs. Jessica Andrade +310, Women’s Flyweight Championship
• Uriah Hall -110 vs. Chris Weidman -110, Middleweight
• Jimmy Crute -195 vs. Anthony Smith +165, Light Heavyweight
• Randy Brown vs. Alex Oliveira, Welterweight
• Brendan Allen -135 vs. Karl Roberson +115, Middleweight
• Danaa Batgerel -150 vs. Kevin Natividad +125, Bantamweight
• Qileng Aori -125 vs. Jeffrey Molina +105, Flyweight
• Jamey Simmons vs. Johnny Munoz, Bantamweights
• Rong Zhu -240 vs. Kazula Vargas +200, Lightweight
• Dwight Grant vs. Stefan Sekulic, Welterweight
• Ariane Carnelossi -150 vs. Na Liang +125, Women’s Strawweight

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Article by Allan Perez