Kamaru Usman Retains Welterweight Title After Defeating Gilbert Burns In Third Round

 

Nigeria-born UFC fighter Kamaru Usman defended his welterweight title against Brazilian challenger Gilbert Burns who he defeated in the third round on Saturday night in Las Vegas. 

Kamaru could have had a humiliating fight when the Brazilian landed a right hook on him just after the opening bell but was slow to complete the drop down after the Nigerian-American dropped on his hands. He recovered from the shock as Burns remained very combating through the round. 

"This one was a tough one. It was a very, very tough one, because of the whole gym situation (and) me leaving," Usman recalled. "But I've said it, ma, I'm the varsity guy. My fight IQ is different."

Burns maintained his hard-fighting moves against the title-defender in the second and that was the changing moment when Usman landed a combination of hooks and jabs on the Brazilian to gain control of the fight. Usman later earned his first knockdown in the second round before finishing off Burns in the third round after another knockdown. 

"It continues to be a Nigerian Nightmare in the UFC welterweight division"," tweeted UFC after the Nigerian maintained his title-defense in three fights in a row. "Kamaru Usman finishes Gilbert Burns in the third round to retain the title."

The 33-year-old finished the fight successfully landing 40 out of 66 shots in the second round alone and established himself as one of the most combative fighters in mixed martial art. He remained unbeaten through 19 fights.