USMAN VS COVINGTON

Covington (right side)

USMAN REMAINS WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION AS HE DEFEATS COVINGTON

NEW YORK -- Kamaru Usman has said repeatedly that he dislikes Colby Covington more than any other opponent he has ever faced. But after their 10th round in the cage together, Usman and Covington could do nothing except embrace.

Usman beat Covington via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) in the main event of UFC 268 on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. With a win in their rematch, Usman retained the UFC welterweight title.

The two fought at UFC 245 in December 2019 with Usman winning via fifth-round TKO in what many consider one of the best title fights in UFC history.

This one didn't disappoint either. Usman nearly finished Covington with huge left hands in the second round, but Covington rallied late, hurt Usman with a body kick in the fourth round and landed hard combinations in the fifth.

Usman said he tried to be more aggressive and finish Covington but had to be more tactical in his approach.

"He's tough. He's super tough," Usman said. "I wanted to get crazy and get him out of there. But that's not what the best do."

ESPN has Usman ranked at the top of its pound-for-pound list of best MMA fighters. At welterweight, Usman is No. 1 and Covington is No. 3.