Kamaru Usman Opens as Solid Favorite in Potential Rematch with Jorge Masvidal

Kamaru Usman is a sizeable favorite to best Jorge Masvidal for a second time should the two welterweights square off again in the near future.

According to oddsmaker BetOnline, Usman opened as a -300 favorite, while Masvidal was listed at +250. As of this writing, Usman was listed at -310 and Masvidal at +260. The rematch must happen sometime in 2021 for any betting action to be valid.

Those odds are comparable to those released prior to UFC 251, when Usman opened as a -313 favorite and Masvidal was a +263 underdog. After original foe Gilbert Burns tested positive for COVID-19, Masvidal stepped in on less than one week’s notice and lost a five-round verdict to the reigning welterweight king on July 11. The card, which featured two other title bouts, drew an estimated 1.3 million pay-per-view buys.

After besting Burns at UFC 258 this past weekend, Usman turned his attention to a return date with Masvidal.

“Like I said, you’ve got this fake Jesus wannabe run his mouth, because he had a built-in excuse for stepping into that fight, why he took that loss, so next time I’m going to close his mouth for good and I’m going to put him to sleep,” Usman said.

Meanwhile, UFC president Dana White didn’t seem opposed to the possibility of booking Usman vs. Masvidal again.

“There’s a lot of options for him right now,” White said. “If that’s the fight he wants and that’s the fight Masvidal wants, then I’m sure the people would like to see it too.”