U.F.C. 268: How to Watch Usman vs. Covington

The Ultimate Battling Championship returns to Madison Sq. Backyard garden on Saturday with what is potentially its most loaded card of 2021, an function that attributes two championship fights and a No. 1 contender identifier for the promotion’s most aggressive division.

The fork out-for each-look at, offered in the United States by ESPN+, commences at 10 p.m. Eastern and costs $69.99.

Here are the factors you need to know about the most essential bouts on the card:

Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington

Kamaru Usman became the welterweight champion in 2019 after defeating the previous champion, Tyron Woodley, by way of selection. Considering that then, he has defended the belt 4 occasions, finishing three fights by knockout.

His first title protection came towards Colby Covington in 2019, a aggressive 5-round struggle that ended in the previous spherical when Usman landed photographs to Covington on the ground that compelled the referee, Marc Goddard, to conclude the bout. Covington contends that the stoppage was early because he statements he was defending himself, and he also accused Usman of exaggerating his reactions to a kick near to the groin and an eye poke that brought about Goddard to pause the struggle twice.

The two guys genuinely dislike each other, as evidenced by the insults they have hurled at each individual other and heated broadcast interviews they participated in. Covington in distinct has been brash, latching himself onto the former President Donald J. Trump, wearing “Make The us Good Again” hats and advertising Donald Trump Jr.’ s guide.

In the cage, Usman is the additional muscular male, but Covington absorbed most of his punches very well through their final battle. To get, Covington will need to use his cardio gain and established an intense speed though also varying his attacks involving hanging and wrestling. Usman is a more well-rounded fighter and is a -300 betting favorite. His light, straight jabs keep adequate electrical power to send a human being to the floor. He could win in a selection of methods, but will most likely try to use his access edge to keep Covington at a distance.

Rose Namajunas vs. Zhang Weili

Rose Namajunas stripped Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who at the time had dominated the women’s strawweight division, of the title in 2017 by way of complex knockout. She missing the belt in 2019 but regained it in April, when she head-kicked Zhang Weili, her left foot tapping Zhang’s chin and sending her to the ground. Zhang, at the time up, contested the stoppage.

Zhang turned the to start with Chinese champion in U.F.C. record in 2019, and her defeat to Namajunas was viewed as a speedy conclusion to what should really have been a aggressive, rapid-paced fight concerning the world’s greatest 115-pounders. Considering that the reduction, Zhang started schooling with Henry Cejudo, the previous U.F.C. flyweight and bantamweight double winner. Namajunas will most most likely use her attain advantage and excellent putting, though Zhang will appear to grapple in the clinch.

Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler

This is essentially an audition for the following opponent for the U.FC.’s light-weight championship. With the 155-pound champion Charles Oliveira scheduled to combat Dustin Poirier in December, the winner of that fight will possibly confront Michael Chandler or Justin Gaethje.

Chandler to start with fought in the U.F.C. in 2020 soon after a thriving run in Bellator M.M.A., regarded as the 2nd-greatest blended martial arts marketing guiding the U.F.C. He received his 1st combat but shed to Oliveira in the 2nd round by way of complex knockout in a contest to fill the vacant lightweight title just after the dominant winner Khabib Nurmagomedov retired.

Just before going through Nurmagomedov in October 2020, Gaethje had a four-struggle gain streak and won the interim light-weight title.

Both equally Gaethje and Chandler element a comparable design as able wrestlers and explosive strikers. This combat commences off the most important card, so get your beer and wings early and really do not blink. This probably will not final extended.