Kamaru Usman beats Colby Covington in rematch to retain title

Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman retained his title with a unanimous decision win against Colby Covington in their rematch at UFC 268 in New York.

Usman, The Nigerian Nightmare, dropped the challenger twice in quick succession at the end of the second round with a big left hook and a huge right hand.

Covington rallied in rounds three and four and the pair traded heavy shots in the fifth without either able to land a fight-ending blow.

The judges scored it 48-47 48-47 49-46.

“I am the pound-for-pound best alive right now,” said Usman, 34, who won their first meeting in Las Vegas at UFC 245 in December 2019 via fifth-round TKO.

Usman’s victory improves his record to 20-1 and extends his winning streak to 19 fights as he cemented his place at the top of the UFC’s pound-for-pound list.