David Larsen 
@adminUFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has been assigned with another opponent and it’s none other than his arch-rival Colby Covington. The welterweight champion Kamaru Usman will be defending his throne against the no.1 ranked welterweight fighter Colby Covington at UFC 268. UFC president Dana White announced that the UFC is targeting this fight to take place at UFC 268 at the November event which will take place at the most iconic venue, Madison Square Garden in New York. Dana White revealed the news to broadcast the partner ESPN.
“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.”
The fight between Usmana and Covington is going to be very much personal considering the hatred between both of these fighters. Colby challenged Usman for the undisputed belt at UFC 245 in December 2019. The fight was an absolute war. As quoted by UFC president Dana White, who after the fight started that this fight was one of the best title fights in the history of the promotion.
In the last round of the fight, Usman poured it on Colby and stopped him in the last moments of the fight. Usman knocked down Colby twice before finishing him with strikes in the fifth round to be declared the winner via technical knockout, this also set the record for the latest finish in UFC welterweight history.
Usman was scheduled to defend his title for the second time against long-time teammate Gilbert Burns at UFC 251. But just weeks before the fight it was revealed that Burns tested positive for COVID-19, and he was subsequently removed from the card. Then it was reported that Jorge Masvidal had stepped in on short notice and served as a replacement for Burns. Kamaru defeated Masvidal via unanimous decision. He then went on to fight Burns later in 2021 and got a decisive win over Burns in the third round via TKO. He fought Masvidal again and this time knocked him out badly in the second round of the fight.
Colby Covington says Usman Is Avoiding To Fight Him
After his loss against Usman, Colby took nearly six months off and then came back to face his long-time rival, Tyron Woodley. Covington headlined UFC on ESPN+ 36 against former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. After dominating his opponent for four rounds, the bout was declared a technical knockout when Woodley suffered a rib injury.
In a recent interview, Colby talked about how he was frustrated with Usman.
“I’m the No. 1 contender,” Covington told MMA Junkie. “There’s a No. 1 next to my name (in the UFC rankings). I’m going to fight for a world title my next fight. Whether it’s going to be Marty, where it’s going to be. We don’t know where, we don’t know who yet, but we will fight for the world title next. Marty’s out there, the CEO of EPO, he doesn’t want to fight. He wants to fight lightweights. He probably wants a trilogy with Masvidal. Last time it was six days, now it’s six weeks, now he probably wants to give Masvidal six months. So he’s only looking to fight lightweights. He wants Michael Chiesa, a guy who is No. 7 in the rankings that were just getting beat by (Anthony) Pettis like a year ago; now he’s not even in the UFC anymore. So, it’s a complete joke.”
