Come late April, MMA fans from all over the world will be treated to an outstanding event, as there’s a full card for UFC 261. At the top of the list, supporters can’t wait to see Jorge Masvidal take on Kamaru Usman in the main event. In this piece, we have UFC 261 picks for Masvidal vs. Usman and more. In what should be an unforgettable night, this is a UFC showcase no one will want to miss.
With things coming on Saturday, April 24, Kamaru Usman is a major favorite to take down Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261. Usman enters this fight with all the confidence in the world, as he’s 18-1-0 leading up to his brawl with Masvidal. As for Masvidal, he’s 35-14-0 as he gets ready to do the unthinkable and not only try and beat Usman, but potentially try and knock him out as well.
According to the Las Vegas sportsbooks, Usman indeed is a big-time favorite, as he’s been given -380 odds. Masvidal is no doubt the big underdog, as Vegas has him listed with +290 odds. While Masvidal is the kind of talent who can take anyone down on any given night, which has been showcased throughout his career, things may be too tough for him going up against someone like Usman.
| UFC 261 odds |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamaru Usman | -380 | -380 | -380 | -380 |
| Jorge Masvidal | +290 | +290 | +290 | +290 |
| Weili Zhang | -190 | -190 | -190 | -190 |
| Rose Namajunas | +155 | +155 | +155 | +155 |
In his last fight, Usman really put on a show. At UFC 258, Usman had an unforgettable fight with fellow welterweight standout Gilbert Burns. In the end, though, Usman was able to knockout Burns in the third round to capture a big win. That TKO was one that fans have probably watched several times on their own. In that win, Usman got Burns to the ground and then delivered countless shots to his face to end things.
Masvidal is fully aware of how dangerous Usman is. Usman has come out and said he’s the best in the world, which Masvidal will try and prove wrong. Will he be able to do so? We don’t think so, as Usman is no question our pick to not only win, but do so by TKO.
In the co-main event, female brawlers Weili Zhang and Rose Namajunas are ready to meet at UFC 261. This will surely be an incredible showdown, as the two strawweight fighters will be ready to do everything possible to try and come away with a much-needed win. The question begs, will Zhang or Namajunas be the one to land more punches and earn the victory?
Zhang is the favorite to win with her -190 UFC odds, while Namajunas has been given her +155 odds. This tells us that the two could be in for a neck-and-neck bout, which is only going to make things even more exciting. Zhang is an impressive 21-1-0 in her career, while Namajunas is 10-4-0. Because of this, it’s pretty easy to understand why Zhang is considered the favorite.
Despite the odds, though, Namajunas will be ready to rock in hopes of securing an upset win. Her last time in the octagon, Namajunas took down Jessica Andrade via decision at UFC 251 in July of 2020. For Zhang, her last bout came in UFC 248 last March, also recording a win. For this fight, our pick is for Zhang to once again be the victor.
Another good fight on the schedule? We don’t have to tell you that Chris Weidman vs. Uriah Hall should be an absolute battle when April 24 arrives. Both fighters have some serious power, and the odds for the two really couldn’t be closer. That’s because Weidman has -110 odds, and Hall has been set at -120.
Both guys have knockout potential whenever they get inside the octagon. Such will be the case when Weidman and Hall meet at UFC 261. Weidman has a career UFC record of 15-5-0, while Hall has gone 17-9-0. Weidman last got in the octagon last August at UFC Fight Night in a co-main event going up against Omari Akhmedov. Weidman won that fight by decision.
As for Hall, his last fight was the main event at UFC Fight Night in October, as he went head-to-head with an all-time legend in Anderson Silva. Hall won in the fourth round via a TKO. That knockout was also impressive, as Hall got Silva to the ground with a strong punch and then delivered a fury of haymakers. Moments later, the fight was over.
Looking ahead to Hall vs. Weidman, this one really should be a back-and-forth affair. We’re not expecting the showdown to end in the first round either. Both fighters are way too smart to get themselves knocked out early. However, when it comes to making a decision, Hall is our pick to win. With his power and aggressive nature, we think he’ll be too much for Weidman to handle.
See below the top sportsbooks, like GTBets, where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
