What’s The Best Fight From The First Quarter Of 2021?

Just a few days are left in 2021, and there’s one fight that still stands out in the first quarter of the year.

When Kamaru Usman successfully defended his UFC welterweight title against former teammate Gilbert Burns, they were full of emotion. Usman notched a record that night on February 13 for the most consecutive wins in UFC welterweight history.

He stopped Burns via TKO at 34 seconds in the third round of the main event.

Burns had frozen Usman twice early in the bout thanks to some huge right hands. But Usman stuck through it and overcame in the second round, serving a powerful jab.

In the second, Usman dropped Burns twice. In the third, it was a right hand that sent Burns to the ground as Usman unloaded his punches, forcing the referee to halt the fight.

Usman has been welterweight champion since defeating Tyron Woodley at UFC 235 in March 2019. He has never lost in the UFC.

Burns went into the fight with a six-fight winning streak. He would have been the first Brazilian to win the UFC welterweight title.

“I’m the varsity guy,” Usman said.

“My fight IQ is different. It’s different when you’re in the gym with me. But when you get in here, it’s a different ballgame. I’m a whole ‘nother savage.”