UFC 245 results: Kamaru Usman finishes Colby Covington in final seconds
The UFC is capping off the 2019 pay-per-view with one of the most fascinating main events we have seen in a long time. Between the stylistic similarities, the records, shared opponents, other crazy coincidences, and — more importantly, the all-in hatred between the combatants, the welterweight championship main event of UFC 245 between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington is as good as it gets on paper.
Usman and Covington’s grudge match will cap off a night featuring three world title fights at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Usman will make his first title defense since his dominant unanimous decision win over longtime title holder Tyron Woodley at UFC 235 in March. “The Nigerian Nightmare” has won 14 fights in a row as he prepares to take on the biggest foil of his career to date.
Covington brings a seven fight win streak into his undisputed championship opportunity on Saturday night. “Chaos” captured the interim welterweight title in June 2018 when he defeated Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225. Covington returned to the Octagon 14 months later — after being unceremoniously stripped of his interim belt by Dana White and the UFC — and picked up a one-sided unanimous decision win over Robbie Lawler in the main event of UFC Newark in August. The 31-year-old Covington’s issues with the UFC are very public and should he defeat Usman on Saturday night, things are going to get a lot more interesting.
Here is how the highly anticipated welterweight championship main event between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington went down at UFC 245, including round-by-round scoring. For full results of the event, check them out right here.
ROUND 1
The challenger walks to the Octagon to Kurt Angle’s WWE theme which is just perfect. The champion looking very relaxed as he slowly and methodically makes his way to the cage for his first title defense. There are over a dozen security officers in in between these guys as Bruce Buffer gets everyone fired up — as if they needed any extra excitement in regards to this fight.
Marc Goddard gives the instructions in this highly anticipated grudge match has begun. Leg kick from Covington early. Usman lands a high kick and falls down after. Nice jab from Usman lands. Covington lands a hard kick to the body and a left hand. Left hand to the body from Covington and a nice right hand from Usman. Another right hand from the champion followed by a hard jab. Usman lands another hard right hand, and another. Covington with a body kick as he has turned up the volume. Covington using nice head movement and smiles at Usman. Hard left hand from Covington and he has Usman’s attention. Covington with a pair of jabs and a hard left hand. Under two minutes to go in the opening round. Left hand from Covington lands and Usman lands a right hand. Covington with a hard right hand and Usman answers with a left. Uppercut lands by the champion and Covington answers back. Jumping knee from Covington and Usman answers to the body. Covington scores again with a left hand. Final 15 seconds of the round and Covington lands a leg kick. Short uppercut from Covington as the horn sounds. They jaw at each other as they head back to the corner.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 for Covington
ROUND 2
Usman throws a hard high kick blocked by Covington. Left hand to the body from Covington, Usman answers with a hard one of his own. A pair of stiff jabs from Usman, Covington lands a left hand with a minute gone. Snapping right jab from Covington and Usman answers back. Nice left hand from Covington that got Usman’s attention. Usman with a nice right hand and a kick to the body. They trade hard jabs in the center. Usman with an uppercut and a hard left hand. Covington with a jab, Usman with one right back. Usman lands hard to the body and Covington throws a kick right back that may have been low. The replay shows otherwise, however as it was right at the belt line. The action continues with an Usman leg kick. Final 90 seconds of the round and Covington lands a jab. Right hand opening up with a bit more volume now. Usman lands a jab and Covington answers. Usman lands another pair of hard shots to the body of Covington. Left hand from Covington. Another body shot from Usman, and another. Covington is not liking those body shots. They talk a bit more trash after the horn sounds. This fight is living up to the hype.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 for Usman
ROUND 3
Left hand early from Covington opens up the third round. Front kick to the body from Usman and a knee to the body as well. Hard jab from Usman lands. Covington coming up short on his punches as we’re a minute removed. Big right hand from Usman and Covington eats it. Covington eats a kick to the body but counters with a stiff jab. A lot of fakes and movement from both guys as we approach the halfway point. Another hard body shot from Usman lands and Covington hasn’t been able to muster much in the offensive department. Left hand misses from the challenger but he answers with a nice jab. Another body shot from Usman. They trade shots and tie up briefly. Usman lands a nice jab on separation. Another body shot from Usman and those are adding up. Usman with a big left hand and Covington answers with a hight kick. Another big kick up high and Covington rushes in. The referee stops the action as Usman was poked in the eye. No doubt about that one. Usman says he’s OK as the doctor checks him out. Usman adamant that he is good to go. The referee agrees and we’re back at it with 30 seconds to go. Another body shot from Usman and a front kick behind it. Covington charges in with.a right hand and eats a right hook from Usman as the round ends. Covington is saying he was poked in the eye after the round ended. Great round for the champ.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 for Usman
ROUND 4
Covington said in the corner that he has a broken jaw and the replay shows that may be possible. Usman knows is and is targeting it. Covington lands a huge shot and Usman fires back. Usman goes to the body and lands a hard jab as well. The right side of Covington’s face is getting real puffy as Usman lands another jab on the broken jaw. Right hand to the body by the champion. Big right hand from Covington. Usman answers with a right of his own. Big uppercut from Covington and a body kick as well. Left hand from Covington lands. Love him or hate him, Covington is as tough as they come. Another big uppercut from Covington. They trade big punches as we approach the final two minutes. Left hand from Covington, Usman answers with a body shot. Right hand lands flush from Usman, Covington answers with a body kick. Right hand lands from Covington. Left hand lands from Covington that stands Usman up. Inside leg kick from Covington, and a right hook lands behind it. Final 40 seconds sees Covington lands a leg kick. The ref stops the action to talk to both fighters for a moment and they continue. Body kick from Covington, jab from Usman. Big left from Covington as the round ends. What a fight! Covington may have taken that round with a broken jaw.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 for Covington
ROUND 5
Final five minutes of a classic! Covington is firing up the crowd and they’re off. Left hand from the challenger and Usman just misses a high kick. Big combination from Covington lands and Usman peppers that jab. Covington with a three shot combination. Left hand from Covington lands and Usman is coming up short with his strikes. Another hard combination from Covington. Usman goes back to the body. Left hand from Covington grazes the cheek of Usman. Halfway through the final round and Covington lands a left hand. Body shot from Usman lands as we approach the final two minutes. Covington with a right hand and a left hand as well. Usman answers with a right hand and a hard left. Usman with a left hand and Covington is handing in there. Usman with a big combination that woke Covington up. Right hand drops Covington. He gets back to his feet and Usman drops him with a left. Usman lands seem ground and pound. It’s all over. Incredible ending to a phenomenal fight!
Official result: Kamaru Usman def. Colby Covington via TKO – Round 5, 4:10
