READ: Did Colby Covington break Kamaru Usman’s 100 percent takedown defense record at UFC 268?
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Colby Covington tests Kamaru Usman's takedown defense
Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington put on a fight that will be one for the ages at UFC 268. The two welterweight superstars lit up the Meccah of combat sports, Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday.
Colby Covington challenged Kamaru Usman for the second time for a shot at the welterweight belt. The Nigerian Nightmare successfully defended his title once again after a barn burner of a fight for five rounds in the main event of UFC 268. Despite Usman’s dominance so far in the welterweight division, it is safe to say that Covington can take the credit for posing the most difficult challenge for the number one pound-for-pound fighter.
Both the fighters went back and forth for the entire fight but something significant happened in the third round that got the whole world to talk about. In an amazing exchange of fighting, Covington managed to takedown Kamaru Usman and he might have broken the Kamaru Usman takedown defense record.
This moment was so significant in the fight that commentator Daniel Cormier was going nuts over this moment. “It was in the exchange and he got the takedown. That was massive for Covington,” exclaimed Cormier during the fight.
Kamaru Usman acknowledges Colby Covington taking him down
According to the UFC Stats, Kamaru Usman’s takedown defense record is 100%. He is the only fighter to have this record. The fighter came into the roster primarily as a wrestler but now the champion has also gone on to extend his arsenal with his one-punch KOs which makes him the most dominant welterweight fighter. Many fans and experts have a debate on this saying Covington did not take him down fully which does not count as one.
But the champion himself believes Colby “Chaos” Covington took him down in the third round. In a post-fight interview with Laura Sanko, Usman credited Covington for even coming close to taking the champion down who takes pride in his elite wrestling. “It was close. I gotta go back and watch the tape but it was damn close. Gotta give him credit for even getting there. Most can’t even get there and he got close,” said Usman talking to Laura Sanko.
“He’s a tough son of a gun. I have always given him credit and I will continue, and goddamn it, I think he got a takedown. I think he got a takedown.”
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Prateek Athanur
(2944 Articles Published)