Usman defeats Covington to retain UFC welterweight crown

Kamaru Usman is still the best pound-for pound fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship after defeating Colby Covington in the early hours of Sunday at the Maddison Square Garden in New York to retain his UFC Welterweight title.

Usman won the fight by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) to defend his welterweight crown at the UFC 268 and rack up fifteenth straight UFC victory.

His record stands only behind Anderson Silva’s 16 straight wins.

Covington was supposed to make Kamaru Usman suffer in the rematch. But it was the Nigerian Nightmare that put his challenger’s dream of a win to sleep at the UFC 268.

Usman took control of the bout 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.

Although Usman has publicly stated his dislike for Covington, but after their fight on Sunday morning, the Nigerian Nightmare embraced the man with whom he has gone 10 rounds (from their two fights) in the Octagon.

It was nearly two years since the last time Usman and Covington stepped into the Octagon against one another. Back then Usman won via a fifth round KO.

Covington has fought just once since that December 2019 clash, squaring off against Tyron Woodley on Sept. 19, 2020. He beat Woodley by TKO in five rounds.

Usman though, since beating Covington, has won three fights, one by KO, another by TKO and another by decision. His most recent fight came against Jorge Masvidal, when he won by knockout on April 24, 2021.