And NEW!
Kamaru Usman is the new UFC welterweight champion after a dominant victory over Tyron Woodley in the co-main event of UFC 235.
Usman didn’t lose a round and had his way with Woodley in every department before scorecards of 50-44, 50-44 and 50-45 confirmed a comprehensive win for ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’.
A betting underdog going into Saturday night, Usman proved the oddsmakers wrong by shutting out Woodley over 25 minutes of grinding action.
“I’ll be honest. I might not be the best striker in the world. I might not be the best pure wrestler in the world. But when it comes to mixing this shit up, I’m the fucking best welterweight on the planet right now,” Usman said in his post-fight interview.
Wow! @USMAN84kg is taking it to the Champ at #UFC235! pic.twitter.com/d9xxn00bju
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) March 3, 2019
Usman found his rhythm quicker, piling the pressure on Woodley in the opening frame and giving the corner of ‘The Chosen One’ plenty to think about after five minutes.
The second was likely a 10-8 for Usman as he spent a long period of time in mount after becoming only the second man in UFC history to take Woodley to the mat.
The urgency was clear to hear from Din Thomas in Woodley’s corner prior to the championship rounds as the defending champion was ordered to move forward and trust his own abilities.
50-44
50-44
50-45Wow! @USMAN84kg just dominated his way to the welterweight title at #UFC235! pic.twitter.com/9sDPwiyqWk
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) March 3, 2019
But the grappling clinic continued in the fourth round and after a warning from referee Marc Goddard about the lack of action as Usman was reminded that “this is a fight!”, he almost secured a finish in the moments that followed when several uppercuts appeared to have Woodley out on his feet.
The fifth round was very much more of the same and Woodley knew when he returned to his feet that his title reign had come to an end.
