This look back at UFC 268 comes to The Touchback via Fight Night Network. Check them out on Instagram!
For only the fifth time in history, the Ultimate Fighting Championship held an event in New York City. A capacity crowd of filled Madison Square Garden expecting a night to remember. It is easy to understand why. The arena has a deep-rooted legacy when it comes to combat sports. From Rocky Marciano vs Joe Louis, to Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier, and Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez, historic fights are the standard. And UFC 268 proved worthy of MSG’s legacy.
Headlined with a welterweight world championship fight, Kamaru Usman looked to defend his title for the fifth time in a rematch against Colby Covington. The first bout between the pair was an instant classic with the champion finishing the fight in the final round after a closely contested back-and-forth contest.
The consensus narrative among Usman fans heading into the rematch was that the work put in with coach Trevor Wittman would now be too much for his opponent to handle. Many stated Usman would win in more dominant fashion this time around.
The Nigerian Nightmare began training with Wittman after the first fight against Covington and since then, each performance has drastically improved. Utilizing straight boxing combinations, particularly ones starting with the jab, has seen him elevate his game to the next level. The champion was coming off two knockout finishes: the first from a jab against long-time training partner Gilbert Burns and then a thunderous knockout of Jorge Masvidal.
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Meeting expectations for such a highly anticipated fight can be difficult, but these two welterweights delivered a performance UFC fans always remember.
Picking up where they left off in the first bout, Usman and Covington seem hellbent on pushing a relentless pace from the first horn. The Nigerian landed more strikes than his rival (22-13) in the opening round with a takedown also being credited to his name. Employing his new and improved piston-like jab, early signs appeared that the improvements made by the champion would be too much for the American.
The second round was more of the same. The skill difference in boxing began to widen with Usman again landing more strikes. With 30 seconds remaining in the round, the champion landed a devastating left hook across the chin of Covington that dropped him to the mat. “Chaos” jumped back up only to be met with yet another left hook that sent him back down from where he came from.
A lack of heart is never something associated with Colby Covington and he demonstrated this once again by returning to his feet a second time, surviving a barrage of shots in the process. Round two was over. Madison Square Garden was on its feet already realizing it was witnessing something special.
Chapter three was a story of the American’s will to win. Picking himself off the stool to start the round, he engaged in a more scrappy affair at close range. Many believe this was a smart move by Covington to combat the long-range boxing capabilities of his competitor. With Usman still narrowly landing more significant strikes, 23-21, this round was seemingly difficult to score and led to much debate online.
A tenacious Colby Covington came out for round four with a point to prove. Understanding that he was behind in the fight and, at the very least, needing to win the final two rounds, he began increasing his output. Chaos began to evade his opponent’s strikes, instead engaging in close quarter exchanges using head movement and counter strikes to edge ahead in the round. The tally would be 38-24 and this was the only round in which the challenger out landed the champion.
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Madison Square Garden was rocking at the point in appreciation of what they had witnessed and in anticipation of the fifth and final round which would determine a winner. Usman started the fight on top, but it was Covington who entered the last five minutes with momentum.
Once again, both men returned to the center of the octagon with The Nigerian Nightmare using his footwork to back up his competitor, although he was unable to deter him. Covington replied with a hard uppercut combination, stunning the champion. He then tried shooting on his 11th takedown of the fight, but the American was once again unsuccessful and the fight reinstated to its position on the feet. Bruised and swollen, the face of Covington was now showing the effects of war. Another 25 hard minutes in the octagon between two warriors had been completed with both men embracing after a less than respectful build up. It was time for the judge’s decision.
“48-47, 48-47, 49-46. AND STILL!” Bruce Buffer raised the roof of Madison Square Garden. The champion had done it. Usman’s fifth defense of the undisputed UFC welterweight championship was now complete and his UFC win streak moved to 15. His legacy will not be forgotten, but there are two sides to every great fight.
The effort and determination shown by the challenger ensured Covington leaves with a legacy of his own. He also declared post fight that he will be back.
The UFC took over New York for a fifth time and delivered a night fight fans will always remember. From a build up with theatrics fitting for Broadway to a fight that will go down in history, Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington II was MMA at its thrilling, technical and brutal best.
