Getty UFC Fighter Colby Covington.
UFC president Dana White finally confirmed the next fight and targeted date for controversial UFC star Colby Covington. The UFC’s top-ranked welterweight contender has long desired a rematch against UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, and White has consistently stated that Usman vs. Covington 2 would likely happen later this year. But White finally confirmed to EPSN this week that the megafight rematch was officially on the way as the main event of UFC 268 in November. Per ESPN, “The date and location are not finalized yet, but UFC is hoping for the fight to headline Madison Square Garden.”
Kamaru Usman will meet Colby Covington in a welterweight title rematch at UFC 268 in November, Dana White told @bokamotoESPN.
The date and location are not finalized yet, but UFC is hoping for the fight to headline Madison Square Garden.
According to MMA Fighting, the UFC is targeting November 6 as the date for UFC 268.
Usman defeated Covington by fifth-round stoppage in the main event of UFC 245 in December 2019. Now, the two stars are finally set to get back at it with UFC welterweight gold on the line for the second time.
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Usman and Covington Have Continued Fighting Through the Media
The two stars haven’t shared the Octagon in over a year, but that hasn’t kept them from taking aim at each other in a different way.
Earlier this year, Usman claimed in an interview with ESPN that Covington hadn’t done enough to warrant the rematch.
“Show me some activity. Give me a reason…,” Usman told ESPN.
Covington disagreed with that hot take, and he blasted the UFC champion for making him wait for the fight.
He posted, “Spoken like a true coward who doesn’t want to face the rightful #1 contender. The rankings have chosen and so have the people… Just say the truth: you know you can’t win and you’d rather fight bums…for easy pay checks…”.
But since Usman made that comment about Covington to ESPN, the UFC welterweight champion has vaulted himself up to No. 2 on the official UFC pound-for-pound list.
Since No. 1-ranked star Jon Jones has been inactive for over a year and a half now, some MMA fans consider Usman the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
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Usman Looked Better Than Ever In Last Fight
In his last fight, Usman looked better than ever in stopping Jorge Masvidal in the second round at UFC 261 in April.
Usman had only defeated Masvidal by decision at UFC 251 in July 2020, but “The Nigerian Nightmare” absolutely destroyed Masvidal in the second fight.
Like Masvidal had done at UFC 251, Covington also gave Usman a tough test until the first fight was stopped in the last round at UFC 245.
What will happen in the rematch?
Usman appears to be at the top of his game right now, but Covington believes he has what it takes to get the job done.
Covington Claimed Controversy At UFC 245
Covington has repeatedly claimed since losing to Usman at UFC 245 that referee Marc Goddard’s missed calls in the fight were what actually led to the loss.
Additionally, “Chaos” believes he should have been allowed to continue the fight in the last round.
That’s led the brash welterweight contender to claim controversy in the fight, and now he’ll get the chance to prove that claim is true.
UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2 looks like it’s the on way for November 8, and the welterweight battle is sure to be one of the most anticipated UFC fights of the year.
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