Dana White told Jim Rome that Masvidal vs. Usman is happening in Las Vegas, probably in July.
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) January 31, 2020
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is going big in July for International Fight Week.
On Friday, UFC President Dana White stated on the Jim Rome Show that welterweight champ Kamaru Usman (16-1) will be taking on Jorge Masvidal (35-13) at an unannounced pay-per-view event in July. The organization does not have any events scheduled beyond UFC 250 in May, so the date and event title have yet to be determined. However, the card will go down in Las Vegas, potentially at the T-Mobile Arena. As the Allegiant Stadium — the new home of the Las Vegas Raiders — will open at the end in July, it does not seem to be a suitable venue since International Fight Week traditionally takes place around Independence Day Weekend.
The two men met on Wednesday at a media day in Miami, and engaged in a fracas where they shouted at each other and appeared to be held back by event officials. The promotion did not need long to schedule their meeting following this public spectacle, as the tension between the two welterweights was palpable.
Usman defended his title for the first time when he defeated Colby Covington in December at UFC 245. The two locked horns in an all-action “Fight of the Year”-contender, and Usman scored a knockout in the fifth round to earn the latest stoppage in divisional history and one of the latest in company history. In his win over Covington, he injured his left hand, and should be cleared to compete soon. “The Nigerian Nightmare” is currently riding a 15-fight win streak, including 11 inside the Octagon. Winner of “The Ultimate Fighter: Season 21,” Usman wrested the welterweight strap from Tyron Woodley by a one-sided decision at UFC 235 in March 2019.
Sherdog’s 2019 “Breakthrough Fighter of the Year” Masvidal is riding a three-fight finish streak where he had knocked out the likes of Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz. Most recently, “Gamebred” headlined UFC 244 against Nate Diaz and picked up a third-round doctor stoppage technical knockout. In the two previous against Askren and Till, he handed both men their first career stoppage loss due to strikes. In particular, Masvidal scored the 2019 Sherdog “Knockout of the Year” by laying waste to Askren in a UFC-record five seconds at UFC 239 in July 2019.
Also during his interview with Rome, White claimed that if Masvidal wins the belt, his first title defense may take place in his home city of Miami. The organization has not put on a card in Miami since UFC 42 in 2003, which saw Matt Hughes defend his welterweight belt against Sean Sherk.