Kamaru Usman promised to put Colby Covington's 'b-tch ass away early' at UFC 268. It certainly wasn't as simple as that, but he got the job done via unanimous decision.
'The Nigerian Nightmare', who broke Covington's jaw in their first fight in December 2019, successfully defended his Welterweight crown for the fourth time in Sunday's main event at Madison Square Garden, New York City.
'Chaos' landed just 23 per cent of his strikes in round one while Usman gave the number one contender a taste of his power, leaving him with a cut on his right cheek.
A dominant Usman then dropped Covington twice in the second with what looked like a 10-8 round. Take a look at that huge shot below.
WOW USMAN DROPS COVINGTON!
The champion :flag_ng: @Usman84kg has the challenger on the ropes! #UFC268 pic.twitter.com/S6pwxxx2Zq
- UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) November 7, 2021
Covington managed to turn things around in round three, picking up a takedown late on, and the American continued to cause Usman problems in round four with a number of kicks to the body.
You wouldn't know it...but there's respect there. #UFC268 pic.twitter.com/QiTsbOXVhX
- UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) November 7, 2021
With Usman seemingly up on points, the pair traded some big shots in the fifth but Covington never quite landed that blow to rock his opponent.
The pair put their differences aside after the bell.
The rematch delivered and in the end, Usman and Covington embrace after :five: rounds at #UFC268 pic.twitter.com/fHUa8Tna6D
- ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 7, 2021
Official: Kamaru Usman def. Colby Covington via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
He is still the WW champion.
- Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) November 7, 2021
Kamaru Usman. Fighter of the year. Issa wrap. #UFC268pic.twitter.com/6lxO7RXcht
- Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) November 7, 2021
Ahead of the bout, the 33-year-old promised he would b 'beat the brakes off Marty' and become the first fighter to dethrone the reigning UFC welterweight champion.
"Tomorrow night, live on pay-per-view, I'm going to beat the brakes off Marty, I'm going to become undisputed champion," Covington said.
"I'm jumping on the Bang jet back to Miami as the pound-for-pound best fighter to ever do it, daddy."
THE REMATCH IS UPON US. #UFC268 pic.twitter.com/vIkhRFr6Ph
- UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) November 7, 2021
So what's next for Usman? The 34-year-old is keen to take on boxing great Canelo Alvarez in a crossover mega-fight.
"It only makes sense because we're in an era to where people want to be entertained," Usman told DAZN this week.
"So, in order to entertain people, when have we in history ever seen the two pound-for-pound fighters in the world in combat sports at the top of their prime, when have we ever seen them compete? It never happened."
He continued on the subject of crossover fights, saying: "Either man waits for the other one to get old It's rarely ever really happened.
"But it's either that both are out of their prime, both are old ... it's never been done.
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