The Ultimate Fighting Championship kicks off July with UFC 251 at the highly-anticipated UFC Fight Island at YAS Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The pay-per-view event is headlined by a championship tripleheader.
Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman defends his title against the BMF Jorge Masvidal, who stepped in to take the fight on six-days notice after Gilbert Burns tested positive for COVID-19.
In the co-main event, Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway 2 for the featherweight championship, and Petr Yan vs. Jose Aldo for the vacant bantamweight title. The event will also include Jessica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas and Amanda Ribas vs. Paige VanZant.
Ahead of this weekend’s event, the UFC uploaded its behind-the-scenes YouTube series “UFC Embedded” to give you an up-close look at what the fighters go through on fight week as they make their final preparations for Saturday night.
How can you tune in to see how fighters are training leading up to fight week?
Below is all of the information you will need leading up to the fight, including every episode of UFC 251 Embedded.
UFC 251 Embedded: Episode 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrjarClr0yU
Athletes like Max Holloway, Paige VanZant and Rose Namajunas enjoy caviar, PJs and doors on a UFC-chartered jet to Abu Dhabi. When the main event changes, champ Kamaru Usman’s new opponent Jorge Masvidal arrives in Las Vegas for his round of tests.
UFC 251 Embedded, Episode 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igLNSW8tW8s
Champ Alexander Volkanovski adjusts his training schedule to the time zone. Jessica Andrade, Rose Namajunas, and Max Holloway change up their camps for the COVID era. Headliner Jorge Masvidal pairs a Versace robe with a Trump mask.
UFC 251 Embedded, Episode 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jamBPsRTRI
Kamaru Usman shares sleep woes with UFC President Dana White on their flight to Abu Dhabi. Max Holloway unboxes his action figure; Alexander Volkanovski and Petr Yan do interviews. Yan adapts to the climate with an outdoor run before training inside.
UFC 251 Embedded, Episode 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-HUW20_N4c
Max Holloway takes a post-quarantine hike to the seaside Octagon; opponent Alex Volkanovski travels there via golf cart. Rose Namajunas and Jessica Andrade preview their upcoming rematch. Amanda Ribas, Jose Aldo and Petr Yan also talk to media.
UFC 251 Embedded, Episode 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eouaLXZ8Bbc
Champ Alex Volkanovski tests his speed and his nerves at Yas Marina Circuit. As weigh-ins near, Jose Aldo watches sports; Paige Vanzant jumps rope; Rose Namajunas gets her pec adjusted; and Jorge Masvidal plays spikeball.
UFC 251 Embedded, Episode 6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxjmSYOtbYQ
Max Holloway uses the Abu Dhabi air to cut weight; Alexander Volkanovski sticks to a sauna. Kamaru Usman talks about facing Jorge Masvidal. After official weigh-ins, Dana White presides over faceoffs between opponents, including Petr Yan vs. Jose Aldo.
UFC 251 Fight Card
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCULrA0hmts/
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10:00 p.m. ET)
- Champ Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal – for welterweight title
- Champ Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway – for featherweight title
- Petr Yan vs. Jose Aldo – for vacant bantamweight title
- Jessica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas
- Amanda Ribas vs. Paige VanZant
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, 8:00 p.m. ET)
- Volkan Oezdemir vs. Jiri Prochazka
- Muslim Salikhov vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
- Makwan Amirkhani vs. Danny Henry
- Roman Bogatov vs. Leonardo Santos
PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+, 6:00 p.m. ET)
- Maxim Grishin vs. Marcin Tybura
- Raulian Paiva vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov
- Vanessa Melo vs. Karol Rosa
- Martin Day vs. Davey Grant
UFC 251: Fight Time & Viewing Details
Event: UFC 251: Usman vs. Masvidal
Date: Saturday, July 11
Venue: UFC Fight Island in YAS Island, Abu Dhabi
Main Card Card Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
