UFC 261’s main card concluded with a knockout of Jorge Masvidal, courtesy of Kamaru Usman’s right hand, on a card that was unusually heavy on brutal finishes and fight-ending injuries.
From the back-to-back leg injuries that ended the nights of Jim Crute and ex-middleweight champion Chris Weidman to the back-to-back knockouts of Zhang Weili and Masvidal, Saturday’s pay-per-view event was a reminder of the insane highs and lows of the sport and the physical repercussions they carry to octagon combatants.
Here’s how fighters reacted to UFC 261’s main card.
I been saying Jorge is shit for 3 years now. Do you believe me yet? #fakeBMF
— Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards (@Leon_edwardsmma) April 25, 2021
That was the wildest card ever.
— Lando Vannata (@GroovyLando) April 25, 2021
Trevor Wittman is a monster
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 25, 2021
Greatest Welterweight of ALL TIME!! Jesus!! That right hand was a missile!! #UFC261
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 25, 2021
Like wow all of them were crazy!
— Britain Hart (@teambritainhart) April 25, 2021
Francis: “ I told him to do that”
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 25, 2021
This is why I don’t bet on MMA, EVER! THUG FUGGIN ROSE!! #UFC261
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 25, 2021
LOVE PAT BARRY ENERGY!!
“YOU DA BEST EVA!!”#UFC261— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 25, 2021
Zhang about to go to the back and get on google translate and say “Keith Peterson smelt like cigarettes and beers” Chinese to English #UFC261
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) April 25, 2021
What happened to not interviewing people after they just got knocked unconscious?
— Deron Winn (@DeronWinn) April 25, 2021
You mother fuckers that are booing Zhang Weili after she got KOd … You know this isn’t about no mma… It’s disgusting and I feel for her …taking nothing from Rose… she’s amazing… but Cmon …. cmon Jacksonville…We are better than this… fuck man
— Andre Soukhamthath (@AndreSoukMMA) April 25, 2021
What I love about MMA, at the highest level… We all get an opportunity to write our own story to our movie.
How you talk.
How you fight.
How you bounce back.
How you influence the masses watching.
God I LOVE this sport! #UFC261— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 25, 2021
Can’t believe these women throwing kicks ♂️ ♀️@ufc
— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) April 25, 2021
Valentina just doesn’t make mistakes
— Eryk Anders (@erykanders) April 25, 2021
Total domination!! Who else is next?? Between her and Amanda Nunes, I can’t decide who is the GWOAT!
I hope Valentina breaks out the dance moves again! #UFC261— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 25, 2021
Valentina would beat the shit out of Jake Paul
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) April 25, 2021
What goes around comes around in the @ufc
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) April 25, 2021
FUCCKKKKKKKK that sucks to see man that sucks
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) April 25, 2021
What goes around comes around!!! Holy crap I hope Weidman recovers okay from this
— Dan “50k” Ige (@Dynamitedan808) April 25, 2021
My wife and I screamed so loud on the replay that the dogs are going mental.
— michael (@bisping) April 25, 2021
The man that broke Anderson Silva’s leg by checking a kick just broke his own leg by throwing a kick and getting it checked. Virtually exact same situation but reversed roles. This is MMA. Prayers out to The All-American. #UFC261
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) April 25, 2021
Im not gonna sleep well tonight
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) April 25, 2021
Prayers for @chrisweidman and his family! Crazy sport we are in! So much respect to all the fighters, coaches and every single professional involved in the fight business definitely not for everybody! #ufc261
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) April 25, 2021
Y’all remember when Jose Also use to run across the cage and leg kick his opponents… YEAH, Im glad he stopped, the game has changed and people sit into those kicks which could injure the leg severely ! #UFC261
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) April 25, 2021
Not a scene we professionals nor fans alike want to see in our sport ,
but a freak accident #ufc261 quick recovery to @Chris_Wideman— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) April 25, 2021
So strange there have only been 3 snapped legs in UFC history and Weidman has been a part of 2
— Funky (@Benaskren) April 25, 2021
That perennial nerve strikes again
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 25, 2021
Holy shit! Jimmy crute leg is the craziest shit I’ve seen #ufc261
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) April 25, 2021
The fat toe does it again
— Chito Vera (@chitoveraUFC) April 25, 2021
Happy for lionheart, bummed for jimmy crute. Wouldn’t mind them running this back! #ufc261
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) April 25, 2021
But why stop that? Idk it’s not broken right? Just a temporary nerve shot I thought..
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 25, 2021
