Jorge Masvidal suffered his first knockout loss in more than a decade on Saturday night when Kamaru Usman put him to sleep in the main event of UFC 261 with one of the most violent single punches you’ll ever see in any ring or Octagon.
Usman retained his welterweight crown with the second round knockout, making sure there was no doubt he was the most dominant fighter in the division and, arguably, in all of men’s mixed martial arts. Masvidal wasn’t just knocked out but he was out cold, as ref Herb Dean grabbed his hand and called over the medical personnel after Usman’s vicious right and a few hammerfists had the Miami fighter done. As many noted as video of the knockout went viral, mere seconds before getting knocked out, Masvidal was laughing after a haymaker of his own just missed Usman. That, and his unconscious body, quickly became a meme on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/ElitePrez/status/1386173687238324225
“this tequila’s me
not hitting 10 mins
me at all” later pic.twitter.com/hhCAULepR4— Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) April 25, 2021
Masvidal laughing seconds before being knocked out is so like reliving the whole Super League announcement to disintegration it is unbelievable https://t.co/GBB5RGeMnq
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) April 25, 2021
There were also plenty of the classic knockout memes that quickly made the rounds.
well https://t.co/0ad970XsgA pic.twitter.com/bLU2Rq8H4L
— mike taddow (@MikeTaddow) April 25, 2021
Masvidal tonight pic.twitter.com/44jtICAn65
— Mike (@_NotchoCheese) April 25, 2021
masvidal taking that right hand pic.twitter.com/dR1jOZOTWB
— Charles Entertainment Hebdo (@Nudistfrog) April 25, 2021
Masvidal gets down 😂 #UFC #ufc261 pic.twitter.com/FvZM2LjTJi
— Nathan (@Natestayswagged) April 25, 2021
Aw masvidal, did you have a long day? You look tired pic.twitter.com/SbmLZXWSV6
— c (@younghova20) April 25, 2021
Masvidal spirit leaving his body… 😂 pic.twitter.com/KtMZ7FhwKN
— David Dalí 🇻🇮🇺🇸🇬🇧 (@pemdave) April 25, 2021
From a betting angle, no one had a worse night than Chad Ochocinco who saw his $50,000 Masvidal bet go up in flames as Gamebred plummeted to the canvas unconscious.
.@ochocinco had $50K on Masvidal…
Pain. *NSFW*
(via @br_betting) pic.twitter.com/OB3SG6y4Cy
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 25, 2021
Everyone who bet Masvidal 😬 😴 pic.twitter.com/Q0UKPbafOf
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) April 25, 2021
There were also plenty who couldn’t help but note that Usman is on quite the run of knocking out UFC’s biggest Trump supporters.
https://twitter.com/cowboykdog/status/1386172970264154113
how it started v. how it's going pic.twitter.com/7ncW55uTTA
— Robert Silverman (@BobSaietta) April 25, 2021
The reaction of the announcing crew Octagon-side also became memeworthy as Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier flipped out after seeing Usman’s vicious right hand in action.
Me looking at all the unmasked folks in Florida pic.twitter.com/0bRLjMbgjJ
— 3030 (@jose3030) April 25, 2021
https://twitter.com/mintchoco65/status/1386178568229638145