MMA News & Rumors: What's Next For Kamaru Usman

As always after a big event, there is a lot of news to cover, as we have fighters looking ahead to what comes next. For the winners, it’s all about taking that next step or deciding who the next title defense will come against. For the losers, it’s time to reflect and begin to think about what needs to be done to get back on track. In this week’s piece, will have what looks to be definitive news about what is next for champion Kamaru Usman, while we also have updates on what Gilbert Burns, who lost to the champ, might be looking to do next, as well as some other news and gossip. With that in mind, let’s jump right into action so you can keep betting against their UFC odds.

2021 MMA Betting News & Rumors Update | Feb. 15th Edition

As a champion in the UFC, you get the ability to call your next shot, although Dana White might not necessarily agree with the demands being put on the table. After beating Gilbert Burns on Saturday night, Usman made it clear that he wants to go against Jorge Masvidal again in what would likely be fan approved should it happen. During the press conference following UFC 258, Dana White appeared to be on board with making the fight happen, essentially lobbing the ball into Masvidal’s court. It has been a year since Masvidal set foot in the octagon. Might this be the matchup that lures him back in?

Gilbert Burns rocked the champion in the opening round, but after his eventual loss, he was quick to admit that he got a little too excited and lost some of his discipline. Burns now drops back down the ranks in what is a stacked weight class, so he has some work ahead of him of he hopes to get back to the top. The question being asked now is who he fights next. There are a lot of moving parts in the division, but if an expected bout between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington does emerge, it would appear likely that Burns would face the loser of that one.

The loss to Usman was not entirely unexpected given that the champ is at the top of his game, but there was one major shock on the main card at UFC 258. Rodolfo Vieira went into Saturday night as a huge favorite, mostly because he is Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) champion. In the history of the UFC, an ADCC champ has never been submitted, but that streak came to an end on Saturday, as longshot Anthony Hernandez got the job done in the second round, leaving many to wonder where Vieira goes from here.

Julian Marquez looked to be heading for a loss in the opening fight of the main card on Saturday night, but he turned it around and took down Maki Pitolo with a chokehold in the dying moments of the fight. In celebrating the win, Marquez took the mic and asked pop star Miley Cyrus to be his Valentine. Judging from the response from Cyrus on Twitter, where she asked him to shave MC into his chest for a shot at a date, it appears as though he may have scored another unlikely win.

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?