By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Kamaru Usman is still the undisputed king of Ultimate Fighting Championship’s welterweight division.
Since snatching the UFC welterweight championship away from Tyron Woodley two years ago, the unbeaten championship streak of Usman continues after successfully defending his belt against Colby Covington via unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 268.
Bloodbath, slugfest, gladiator style mano-a-mano. Describe it all you want. Usman and Covington fought toe-to-toe with each other and had everyone at New York’s Madison Square Garden on their feet for five rounds of intense mixed martial arts clash.
The contrasting style between the two fighters resulted in fireworks as Usman stuck to his game plan of efficient striking while Covington introduced more ground game to his freestyle fighting style.
Usman started with clean hits in the first two rounds and gave Covington the business in the second when he dropped him twice, first with a short left hook that sent Covington to the canvass.
However, the tough Covington stood up and was unfazed but the surging Usman followed it up with another left hook that sent him down twice in just three seconds.
Covington’s toughness and grit showed in the last 21 seconds when he was able to survive and find enough breathing room in the next three rounds.
When everyone thought that the bout will go one-sided, Covington stunned everyone when he connected on several body kicks and solid counter straights that hurt Usman in the next rounds of the fight.
Covington continued to pour his attack in the last round and was able to hit Usman several times in the head but wasn’t able to continue as he chose to execute a takedown which was quickly countered.
Usman was quick to respond and put on a striking clinic in the last two minutes of the match to prove to the world that he is still the king of the 170-lbs. division of the UFC.
“I know there’s a lot of trash talk and there’s a lot of bad blood here, and there’s probably still gonna be some after tonight, but this guy is tough,” said Usman during his post-match interview.
