UFC 245 Highlights: Usman v Covington

On Saturday, 14th was UFC 245, and we witnessed some tough bouts take place in the ring. Perhaps the toughest was the welterweight contest between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington with the former winning the match by a knockout in the fifth round. The match was declared as the fight of the night.

The two boxers seemed evenly matched, with very impressive records behind them. However, Covington was no match for the Nigerian champion, as he suffered a broken jaw and what they call a non-displaced midline mandible fracture.

Before the match, Usman and Covington had had some bad blood between them. The weeks leading to the match saw Covington make harsh remarks about Usman and even accusing him of using drugs. Usman never replied to any of it, promising to not only win their fixture, but to punish Covington, and this he did well.

In the first round, the two fighters went for each other, with punches and jabs. It seemed like none could outdo the other. The second round continued in the same fashion, and it seemed like it would be hard for the judges, and the audience to say who was the better man. Equal jabs and blockages, although it ends with Usman landing four punches on the American, slowing him down.

The third round is when things began to seem uneven a bit. Usman suffers a hit to the eye, but a quick examination on it shows the eye to be fine. The two boxers land lethal punches on each other. By the time the match ends, Covington complains of a broken jaw.

The next round goes on with the same ferocity, both boxers trying to bring the other down. It was in round five that things took a great turn when Usman lands a right punch that sends Covington on the floor. A stoppage by the referee prevents Usman from dishing out more punches to an already weak Covington, bringing the match to an end.

After the match, Covington would later say that the referee was unfair for stopping that match and that he could manage on his own, accusing him of robbing the people “of a fair fight”. But this seems very unlikely as Covington had to be rushed to the hospital after the bout. This would be his first loss in two years and the second in his career. As for Usman, he enjoys a spot in history by being the fourth UFC fighter to go 11 matches straight with no loss. Also, this was his first title defence after winning it in March.

Written by: Leon Osamor