‘CEO Of EPO’ Joins USADA’s Ugly Jacket Club

Colby Covington’s clever “CEO of EPO” nickname for Kamaru Usman has been tossed out the window after the UFC welterweight champion received his jacket this week for 50 clean USADA tests.

Usman, who will defend his title in a rematch with “Chaos” later tonight (Sat., Nov. 6, 2021) at UFC 268 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Madison Square Garden in New York City, has proven to be one of the most dominant fighters of the past five years. The champion has successfully defended his title four-straight times and most recently claimed the title for pound-for-pound best fighter in the sport.

However, great accomplishments usually produce even greater scrutiny and Usman has been held under the microscope by Covington over the past two years. Covington has claimed that Usman not only cheated and faked injuries in their first meeting back in 2019, but “Chaos” has gone out of his way to reference Usman as the “CEO of EPO,” suggesting the champ is taking performance-enhancing drugs.

While Usman is a physical specimen who looks bigger and stronger than anybody else at 170 pounds the champion has never been linked to PED use. In fact, Usman has now joined the likes of Daniel Cormier and Holly Holm as athletes who have turned in 50 clean tests under USADA’s watch. As we know, if you test clean on 50 USADA tests you’re in store for one of the ugliest jackets of all time. It’s a nice gesture, but UFC can probably do a little better with the gifting.

Usman, who is hoping to put a stamp on his rivalry with Covington at UFC 268, took to social media Friday night to show off his new USADA jacket and send a message to “Chaos.” Check it out below courtesy of Instagram:

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MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 268 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard balance on ESPNEWS/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.