The UFC welterweight title bout between Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns, originally set for Abu Dhabi this summer, has been delayed once more.
The clash was slated to headline UFC 256 on December 12, but ESPN reported early Tuesday that champion Usman needed more time to recover from as yet undisclosed injuries. The expectation is now that the fight will take place early next year.
It is the second time a bout between the pair has been called off, with the unbeaten Usman supposed to defend his title against Burns at UFC 251 in Abu Dhabi in July – the opening event on the inaugural Fight Island.
However, the Brazilian, the division's No 1-ranked challenger, had to withdraw after he tested positive for Covid-19 not long before leaving Las Vegas for the UAE.
Jorge Masvidal then stepped in, taking the fight on only six days' notice, but was ultimately defeated comfortably on points by Usman in a one-sided match-up at Flash Forum. The event was still deemed a huge success, with UFC 251 said to have generated more than 1.3 million pay-per-view buys worldwide - making it the promotion's most successful card since Conor McGregor faced Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018.
According to ESPN, the UFC have explored the possibility of booking heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic against Francis Ngannou for the UFC 256 card, but reported it to be a “long shot”.
Two-division champion Amanda Nunes is scheduled to defend her featherweight crown on that same card on December 12, against Megan Anderson.
