Kamaru Usman says Colby Covington earned his respect after another five-round battle in the UFC 268 main event.
Although Usman (20-1 MMA, 15-0 UFC) still believes Covington (16-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) is “rotten” as a person, he said as an athlete he can’t deny his ability. The pair went tooth-and-nail again on Saturday, with Usman retaining his welterweight title by unanimous decision in the pay-per-view headliner at Madison Square Garden.
Usman said Covington is the second-best fighter at 170 pounds, and he thinks it’s important to have a rival to push him to his limits.
“As a competitor I respect him – that’s the next best guy in the division,” Usman told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the UFC 268 post-fight news conference. “This guy’s tough as nails. He’s very, very tough. Let’s be honest: (Muhammad) Ali needed a (Joe) or Frazier. All these guys. You can be the great one, but there’s always going to be the one guy that can push you. He is that guy. As much of him outside the octagon as most people don’t like, myself included, you have to respect him as a competitor.”
With Usman securing the win, he now has two victories over Covington. He won the first fight by fifth-round TKO in December 2019, but this time the pair needed all 25 minutes.
Does that mean the story between them is over? Covington said post-fight that he still has “unfinished business” with Usman, but the champion said he’s not sweating it at the moment. He would take the fight again, but he said his foe needs to put in significant work.
“I don’t know (if we’ll fight again),” Usman said. “That guy’s tough. I think he’ll tune up a lot of guys in the division so it’s up to him. If he’s willing to do the work and get back up here, and I’m still here, we’ll make it happen.”
Usman declined to discuss what could be next for him in terms of opponents. He put together a spectacular year with three title defenses over Covington, Jorge Masvidal, and Gilbert Burns, and now he’s ready to turn his attention to family before getting back in the octagon.
“I need some time with my daughter,” Usman said. “She passed out tonight (during my fight), so I don’t know. That lets me know that I have to give him some time. These are special to me. I need to make it memorable for her. I’ve been gone for almost 10 weeks, but I need to give her some time. I can’t even think about fighting right now.
Kamaru Usman praises Colby Covington as ‘next best guy in the division’ after UFC 268 title defense
