Kamaru Usman scores dramatic fifth round KO against bitter rival Colby Covington to retain UFC welterweight title

KAMARU USMAN scored a dramatic fifth round knockout against his bitter rival Colby Covington to retain the UFC welterweight title.

The grudge match went down to the wire as they duo stood and traded punches for the entire fight, with Covington suffering a broken jaw in the third round.

But a determined Usman pushed the pace in the fifth and twice dropped his nemesis with two devastating right hands, with the champion forcing the finish with 50 seconds remaining after relentless hammer fists.

After the last-gasp KO, Usman said: “This one is not just for me it’s for the whole entire world right now.

“I was catching him with some left hooks but I was kind of overreaching with them.

“Sometimes I don’t stay with my striking long enough.

“Guys I’m the best in the world.

“It felt good, he was tough, he was stubborn he caught me a few times but my mind is tough, I’m tougher than all these guys.”

The narrative going into the welterweight clash was who would win the grappling battle between the divisions two best wrestlers.

But either respecting each other’s skills too much, or wanting to settle their feud with the traditional way, the whole fight was competed on the feet.

From round one Covington settled into a nice southpaw flow behind a snappy jab but Usman landed the heavier, more telling blows.

In the second the pair stood in the pocket and traded jabs, with both taking turns to land meaningful shots, but the challenger was sent off balance reeling into the cage.

Usman looked to have turned the fight on its head in the third after a thudding right hand rocked the chin of Covington – but it did not stop the challenger from wobbling the champion with a late head kick to close out the round.

As Covington retreated to his corner he informed his coaches that he had broken his jaw having been on the end of a ruthless right from Usman.

The cracked jaw seemed to inspire ‘Chaos’ as he peppered the champion with a straight left before finding success with the uppercut to turn the momentum of the contest again in the fourth.

As the final bell sounded for round five it was all to play for – and the challenger was quick off the mark.
Covington established an early flow and began to time some clean left hands over the top of Usman’s guard.

But with two minutes remaining, and his UFC title slipping away, the Nigerian-American champion followed the insurrections of his corner and went after the challenger.

Usman lined up a perfect right hand right shooting directly down the middle and putting Covington on the seat of his pants.

Eager to prove his could fight on the American bad boy rose to his feet but did so on wobbly legs.

Cool, calm and composed Usman waited for his moment but this time came slightly round the side and again dropped the challenger this time with a hook.

Usman’s steady composure soon went out the window as he reigned down desperate hammers fists until the fight was waved off and Covington’s brave challenge came to and end.

Covington, bloodied and cut, was distraught after the loss, as Usman celebrated with his family and team-mates.

The judges would have been split, with each fighter receiving a verdict while another official had the pair drawing going into the final round.