UFC 268 LIVE: Kamaru Usman vs Colby Covington result plus Rose Namajunas and Justin Gaethje reaction tonight
Follow all the fallout from Madison Square Garden
Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington again contested a classic for the UFC welterweight title on Saturday night, with Usman outpointing his rival to retain the belt against him for a second time.
Two years after Usman stopped Covington in the fifth round of one of the most competitive title fights in UFC history, the Nigerian-American again put the gold on the line against the Floridian this weekend. And in the main event of UFC 268, in a sold-out Madison Square Garden in New York City, Usman again overcome Covington in a thrilling encounter. The fight went to the judges’ scorecards and, although a draw was conceivable – even a narrow Covington victory – Usman was declared the winner via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46).
In the evening’s co-main event, strawweight Rose Namajunas also retained her title on points, beating Weili Zhang 48-47, 47-48, 49-46 for a split-decision victory. Earlier this year, Namajunas became a two-time strawweight champion by stopping Zhang via first-round head kick, but the Chinese star gave a much better account of herself in New York City, arguably unfortunate not to get the nod on the judges’ scorecards.
Earlier in the night, Justin Gaethje outpointed Michael Chandler, with the main-card opener somehow over-delivering. Gaethje’s meeting with fellow lightweight contender Chandler was expected by many fans to play out as fight of the night, yet somehow the contest was even more competitive and brutal than anticipated. A fine start by Chandler gave way to a second round in which the former Bellator champion was dropped by Gaethje, though Chandler would survive and go on to hurt his fellow American numerous times in a valiant losing effort.
Re-live updates from the UFC 268 prelims and main card, below.
UFC 268 – Gaethje vs Chandler
Round 1
More leg kicks from Gaethje. He’s taken some huge shots, but he’s pieced up Chandler, too.
Chandler shoots for a takedown late in the round, but it’s defended.
Slapping left hook from Gaethje!
How do you score that round?! It’s maybe round of the year...
The opponents bump fists...
UFC 268 – Gaethje vs Chandler
Round 1
Good leg kick from Gaethje...
ONE-TWO from Chandler hurts Gaethje!
Gaethje comes back with a hook, Chandler hurts him with a flying knee!
Gaethje responds and cuts Chandler, who also eats an elbow!
Knee to the body from Chandler.
This is unreal.
UFC 268 – Gaethje vs Chandler
Round 1
Chandler evades a leg kick at once, then another. He goes close with a couple of punches...
This writer has a knot in his stomach...
Gaethje finally lands a leg kick, and Chandler returns fire!
Oh! The men are trading punches in the pocket by the fence!
Gaethje swings big with an uppercut, but it misses...
This is exactly what we expected. It’s fantastic. “Gaethje” chants.
UFC 268 – Gaethje vs Chandler
Bruce Buffer with the introductions, the atmosphere in Madison Square Garden is electric...
Here we go!
UFC 268 – Gaethje vs Chandler
Chandler is out first, then Gaethje to huge cheers.
The NYC crowd is behind Gaethje here, it seems!
‘The Highlight’ has won 19 of his 22 victories via KO/TKO...
Chandler, meanwhile, has won 10 of his 22 victories via KO/TKO.
Gaethje has one submission win to his name; Chandler has seven.
UFC 268 – Gaethje vs Chandler
Although Gaethje and Chandler both lost title fights in their respective last bouts, the winner of this clash is expected to challenge for the lightweight belt again next...
Charles Oliveira defends the gold against Dustin Poirier next month in the main event of UFC 269, with the victor of that clash likely next for Gaethje or Chandler.
UFC 268 – Gaethje vs Chandler
Chandler was so close to becoming UFC lightweight champion in his last bout, in May.
The American almost stopped Charles Oliveira late in Round 1, only to be dropped with a perfect hook early in Round 2, a strike that spelled the beginning of the end for the former Bellator champion.
UFC 268 – Gaethje vs Chandler
Gaethje was riding a four-fight win streak before he was submitted by Khabib in the second round of their title clash last October.
In fact, Gaethje entered the bout as interim champion, having picked up that belt with the finest display of his career – piecing up Tony Ferguson for four-and-a-half rounds in spring 2020.
UFC 268 – Gaethje vs Chandler
Gaethje (22-3) vs Chandler (22-6) was set to take place just before tonight’s co-main event, but it was moved to the start of the main card this week.
That’s because Gaethje’s coach, Trevor Wittman, also trains Rose Namajunas and Kamaru Usman – who fight in the co-main event and main event respectively.
So, to prevent Wittman from coaching during three consecutive fights, Gaethje vs Chandler will take place earlier than originally planned.
Many fans at first thought the move was simply because this bout is the perfect way to kick off a stacked card at MSG.
This one should be brutal... Don’t be surprised if it doesn’t go past Round 1.
UFC 268 – Gaethje vs Chandler
Next up, the main card...
It kicks off with what many fans believe will be fight of the night: Justin Gaethje vs Michael Chandler.
These two lightweights are elite wrestlers with tight boxing – and, particularly in Gaethje’s case, power.
In each of their last fights, the two Americans came up short in their respective bids for the 155lbs title; Gaethje was submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov over a year ago, with Chandler then knocked out by Charles Oliveira earlier this year when the retired Khabib’s vacant belt was on the line.
Former Bellator champion Chandler is fighting for the third time this year, with his loss to Oliveira following his successful UFC debut against Dan Hooker in January, a contest he won via emphatic first-round KO.
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