Kamaru Usman vs Warlley Alves — Fight recap

Kamaru Usman defeated Warlley Alves by unanimous decision over three rounds on November 19, 2016, in a welterweight bout that showcased Usman's superior striking volume and control. Usman landed 71 significant strikes at 47% accuracy while controlling the action for 5:21, compared to Alves's 25 significant strikes at 34% efficiency and zero control time.

The Nigerian fighter's striking was distributed effectively across head strikes (58 of 127) and body work (11 of 20), while he also secured one takedown attempt at 50% success. Alves struggled to find his rhythm offensively and failed to establish any grappling threat, managing only one submission attempt without generating meaningful ground time.

Referee Vitor Ribeiro oversaw a dominant performance by Usman, who controlled the pace and distance throughout. The victory marked an important step in Usman's rise through the welterweight ranks, establishing him as a well-rounded striker with solid wrestling fundamentals.