UFC 268: Kamaru Usman sneaks by Colby Covington to retain title, says ‘I’m pound-for-pound best alive’
- Welterweight champ made to work for unanimous decision over his arch nemesis at Madison Square Garden
- Covington insists ‘I’m just getting started’ after pushing ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ close on two scorecards
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman racked up a second victory over his arch nemesis Colby Covington, but once again it didn’t come easy.
“The Nigerian Nightmare” first beat “Chaos” via TKO in the fifth-round of a back-and-forth championship fight at UFC 245 in late 2019. In the main event of UFC 268, which went down inside New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden, the champ got his hand raised by unanimous decision – though once more only after an incredibly-competitive fight.
Both Usman (20-1) and Covington (16-2) had their moments in the fight. The 34-year-old Usman, who was born in Nigeria but now lives in the South Florida, and 33-year-old American Covington have traded ceaseless trash talk over the last few years.
But after their latest war, their tone was decidedly softer. Usman, in particular, had some warm words for his foe.
“I got to give it up,” Usman said in his post-fight interview with commentator Joe Rogan. “I know there was a lot of trash talk, a lot of bad blood here, and I’m sure there’s still going to be some after tonight, but this guys a tough son of a b****. He’s tough as s***.”
“When you share the Octagon with someone this tough, you can’t help it,” he added. “That respect is going to come. He hit me with some shots. I can tell him and his coaches over there at MMA Masters, they’ve been working on it.”
