UFC on ESPN+ 36 free fight: Colby Covington shuts down Robbie Lawler with record output

Few fighters can keep up with Colby Covington’s pace.

Covington (15-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) faced former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler in the main event of UFC on ESPN 5 in August 2019, looking to cement himself as the No. 1 contender at 170 pounds.

From the opening bell, Covington gave Lawler no room to breathe, putting on a suffocating pace throughout the entire 25 minutes.

Covington threw nearly 600 strikes in the contest, setting the single-fight record for highest output in UFC history. He used his jab, clinchwork and takedowns to control the fight and neutralize Lawler’s big knockout power. Covington won every round, and Lawler had no answer for his pressure.

The win set up the highly anticipated welterweight title fight between champion Kamaru Usman and Covington at UFC 245. Though things didn’t go Covington’s way in that clash, it was a back-and-forth instant classic, with the champion outlasting Covington and stopping him in Round 5.

Covington will look to re-enter the title picture Saturday, when he faces arch rival Tyron Woodley (19-5-1 MMA, 9-4-1 UFC) in the UFC on ESPN+ 36 main event, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Before he faces Woodley, relive Covington’s one-sided win over Lawler in the video above.