With the launch of “Fight Island” in less than two weeks, the UFC 251 combat map was now completed along with the broadcast schedules for the show.
There are three title fights on the card, led by welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who are defending his belt against former teammate Gilbert Burns.
Usman looked almost unbeatable when he stormed through the welterweight before winning the belt in 2019. He has since defended the title with a TKO in round five against Colby Covington, but now he meets a former training partner he has worked with for the majority of eight years.
Burns comes into the main event after six consecutive wins, including a unilateral decision over former champion Tyron Woodley in his last fight. Burns earned his title shot after switching to welterweight last year. If he won at UFC 251, he would complete an incredible 11 month run to become champion.
Meanwhile, Alexander Volkanovski will defend his featherweight title for the first time against Max Holloway, whom he defeated last year to secure his belt. Holloway is widely considered to be arguably the greatest featherweight of all time, which is why he was given an immediate rematch when he tried to avenge his previous loss while competing against Volkanovski on July 11th.
The third title fight crowns a new bantamweight champion as Russian demolition machine Petr Yan takes on former featherweight king Jose Aldo, who will appear for the second time at £ 135.
The UFC 251 main card will start at 10 p.m. CET with the show, which is broadcast only on ESPN + Pay-per-View in the United States.
The preliminary card begins at 6 p.m. ET with the entire show simulated on both ESPN and ESPN +. The first four fights of the night will also be broadcast on the UFC Fight Pass. The exact order of the preliminary rounds has yet to be determined.
Here is the final map for UFC 251: Usman vs. Burns
MAIN CARD (ESPN + Pay-per-View at 10 p.m. ET)
MAIN EVENT: Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns
Alexander Volkanovski against Max Holloway
Petr Yan vs. Jose Aldo
Jessica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas
Paige VanZant vs. Amanda Ribas
UFC 251 PRELIMS (ESPN and ESPN + at 6 p.m. ET)
Volkan Oezdemir vs. Jiri Prochazka
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs. Muslim Salikhov
American Comedy vs. Danny Henry
Leonardo Santos against Roman Bogatov
Marcin Tybura against Alexander Romanov
Raulian Paiva against Zhalgas Zhumagulov
Karol Rosa vs. Vanessa Melo
Martin Day vs. Davey Grant
