Kamaru Usman Retains UFC Welterweight Title After Beating Covington
Nigerian fighter Kamaru Usman retained his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight title after defeating Colby Covington 49-46, 48-47, 48-47 by unanimous decision in UFC 268 on Sunday at the Maddison Square Garden in New York, USA.
The last time Usman and Covington stepped into the Octagon against one another, the Nigerian won via a fifth round Knock Out.
Usman took control of the UFC 268 fight from the first round as both fighters attempted takedowns without any success. Covington was not so lucky in the second round as Usman dropped him twice. The Nigerian Nightmare then finished the round with number of strong body shots.
Usman took the next two rounds and Covington could only win the last one. But then, it was a little too late to get him a win. It was the Nigerian’s 15th straight victory at UFC. Usman’s record stands only behind Anderson Silva’s feat of 16 straight wins.
The Nigerian was the winner on all three judges’ scorecards.
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Despite the longstanding animosity that accrued over the build-up to the UFC welterweight championship fight, Covington and Usman displayed good sportsmanship as they hugged in the middle of the Octagon and offered each other respect after the fight.
Usman compared this fight to their first and discusses the details about the bout inside the Octagon.
After their rematch at UFC 268 on Sunday, Usman described Covington as a tough opponent. He also acknowledged that Covington has improved from their first bout at UFC 245.
Going into the fight, Covington said he had recalibrated his approach and would not fight the same way as he did in their first encounter. And the beginning of the opening round revealed a more cautious fighter, though as the round progressed, Usman’s pressure appeared to force Covington into a defensive posture.
Chidi Nwoke/UFC/BT Sport.
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