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Kamaru Usman stops Gilbert Burns via TKO to retain welterweight title Burns came out fast and hard, winging powerful shots and clipping the champion to put Usman on rubber legs. Burns tried to follow up and did connect with several heavy strikes, but Usman was able to weather the storm and survive an opening round that tilted strongly in favor of the challenger.
Francis Ngannou wins UFC heavyweight title, 'ready any time' for Jon Jones
From most feared to undisputed best, the Francis Ngannou era has begun. Ngannou knocked out Stipe Miocic to win the UFC heavyweight title Saturday night at the UFC Apex. The finish came at 52 seconds of the second round. Ngannou dropped Miocic with a left hand, but Miocic got up, recovered and wobbled Ngannou briefly with a right hand. But Ngannou was quick to counter with a left hook that sent Miocic down again. Ngannou put Miocic out for good with a punch on the ground. With this title win, Ngannou is now expected to fight UFC all-time great Jon Jones, who is moving up to heavyweight after dominating the light heavyweight division for the last decade.
Robert Whittaker beats Kelvin Gastelum via unanimous decision in Las Vegas Whittaker (23-5) and Gastelum (16-7, 1 NC) were first supposed to fight at UFC 234 on Feb. 10, 2019, when Whittaker was the UFC middleweight champion. But Whittaker withdrew from the bout the day of the card due to a hernia.
UFC 264: Everything you need to know about Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 3
The UFC 264 main event between Connor McGregor and Dustin Poirter won't have a title on the line, but there will be plenty at stake on July 10 before a capacity crowd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. And the significance goes deeper than the winner likely landing a title shot against lightweight champ Charles Oliveira. For Poirier, the decision to face McGregor for a third time meant passing up the opportunity to fight for the title vacated by the retirement of Khabib Nurmagomedov. Poirier has held the interim belt before, but being undisputed champ is the dream of every fighter. Poirier is betting on himself, confident he'll beat McGregor again in what should be the most lucrative fight of his career. The plan is to win the money fight first and then go after the title fight. A loss would put his title quest on an uncertain path.
Midyear MMA awards: A dominant UFC champ, a hot prospect and ... Jake Paul?
There were dominant performances by champions, title-fight upsets and a surprising phenomenon that appears to be gaining momentum. About the only thing the MMA world didn't have in the first half of 2021 was a card in front of a packed house in Las Vegas. That will change on July 10, when Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirter complete their trilogy at UFC 264 in T-Mobile Arena. In the meantime, a look back at the past six months reveals several performances -- and moments worthy of recognition. Our 13-member panel picked the top fight, best male and female fighters, the most spectacular finish, top prospect and the biggest surprise.
Nevada State Athletic Commission votes not to discipline boxers, MMA fighters for marijuana use
The most significant regulator of combat sports has made a huge move in the way it deals with marijuana. The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) voted Wednesday to no longer discipline fighters for cannabis. NSAC, which regulates some of the most high-profile boxing and MMA fights in the world, joins the Florida State Boxing Commission, which stopped testing for marijuana completely in May. The new policy begins Wednesday and is not retroactive to cases that have yet to be adjudicated. The NSAC will continue to test for marijuana for data purposes over the next six months, and a determination will then be made whether that data collection will continue. The commission was given the leeway to make the decision to not discipline for marijuana via a memo from Nevada Senior Deputy Attorney General Edward Magaw, who was at the meeting. Magaw said that the vote will represent a change in policy immediately and will later be reflected in the commission's written regulations.