UFC 245: Usman Stops Covington

UFC 245: Usman Stops Covington

Many expected the main event in the final UFC PPV of the decade to be a fight for wrestling dominance but instead it turned into a war of attrition on the feet.

Eventually Kamaru Usman found the punches he needed to stop Colby Covington in their grudge match to decide who is the best welterweight in the UFC.

Usman retained his UFC title, but only after a titanic battle that was a much better fight than many would have expected it to be.

Covington had his moments and at times he looked the likely winner, I had him two rounds up heading into the final round.

The judges were split, one had it 3-1 to Covington, another had it the other way by the same score, while a third had it even, it was that type of fight.

Covington blasted the referee Marc Goddard for the stoppage at the 4:10 point of the round, and I tend to agree it was slightly premature. But stoppage or not, Usman after a dominate 5th round would have got the win on the cards.

Usman proved his point and hopefully now gets the credit he perhaps hasn’t so far recieved.

Covington fought through a broken jaw, and more than played his part in a tough brutal fight. But that will be of little consolation to the American. He has brilliantly created this love-hate wrestling heel persona, and it will be interesting what version we see on his return, I doubt even a broken jaw will keep Covington quiet for very long.