Usman retains UFC title on points against Covington at UFC 268

Kamaru Usman made another successful defense of his UFC welterweight world title following a unanimous decision nod over Colby Covington in the main event of UFC 268 this Sunday at the Madison Square Garden in New York, USA.

Covington was patient in throwing his punches and kicks and switched stances in the opening round. Usman stalked the challenger on the other hand, as he moved forward, throwing punches with bad intentions.

An accidental clash of heads then opened a cut below Covington's right eye before round 1 ended. Covington, however, remained cautious in round two. Whenever he closed the distance or opened up with his punches, Usman clapped back with hard shots that Covington felt.

A short left hook eventually caught Covington, which dropped him. He got back to his feet and was dropped again with another left hook.

Usman continued to press forward in round three. Covington was calculated with the strikes he threw, went for a takedown before the round ended, then followed it up with numerous landed punches in round 4 that rocked Usman.

Usman stepped up the pace in the fifth and final round only to be caught a few times by Covington's right uppercut.

They exchanged strikes throughout the round and until the final bell. After five five-minute rounds, all three judges saw the fight for Usman. The scorecards were 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46. It was Usman’s 19th consecutive win, improving his record to 20-1 while Covington fell to 16-3.

—JMB, GMA News