What mattered most at UFC on ESPN 5 in Newark, N.J.? Here are a few post-fight musings …
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1. Colby Covington reminded us how he good he is
We could go on all day about Colby Covington’s (15-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) persona, but when it comes to fighting, there’s no denying the guy is a rare talent in MMA and is going to be a problem for any welterweight in the world.
Covington pushed and pushed and pushed from the moment his headlining matchup with Robbie Lawler began until his hand was raised in a one-sided unanimous decision. He quite literally threw more strikes than any fighter in any fight in UFC history, and while he only landed about 37 percent of them, it almost completely nullified Lawler.
On top of that, Covington attempted 18 takedowns (landing 10) and found a way to mix it up in a manner that was truly impressive. And if he’s being truthful about barely being able to train for the fight because of a cut suffered above his eye during preparation, then that makes the performance all the more special.
2. Covington vs. Usman has to be next
Sorry Jorge Masvidal, but the next 170-pound title fight has to be between Kamaru Usman (15-1 MMA, 10-0 UFC) and Covington. The matchup has been simmering for some time, and it has finally reached a boiling point at the perfect moment.
Make what you will about the lengthy exchange between the rivals on the ESPN post-fight show, but it will serve as solid fodder in the promotion in what is, for my money, one of the more anticipated title fights in that division for a while.
The lead-up may be cringey and uncomfortable at times, and the complaints about the potentially dull nature of an Usman vs. Covington fight are already out there. It’s possibly it plays out that way, but it could also be extremely compelling given the fact the two bare such similar skill sets revolved around pressure and output.
Who will prove superior? Hopefully we can find out Nov. 2 at UFC 244, because Madison Square Garden in New York is a fitting venue for this grudge match.
3. Too soon to write off Robbie Lawler
After the loss to Covington in which he was left pretty beat up, Lawler (28-14 MMA, 13-8 UFC) now finds himself in unfamiliar territory in the form of his first career three-fight losing skid.
The former UFC champ just couldn’t find his way against Covington. It’s understandable given he was trying to weave through a seemingly never-ending stream of offensive from his opponent, but it does feel like “Ruthless” could’ve done more at some points in the fight.
At 37, Lawler is definitely no youngster anymore and has a lot of miles on the body. A decline is bound to happen, but it’s too early to decide whether that’s what’s happening now or if he merely ran into what could be the best welterweight in the world right now.
Lawler will no doubt go back to the gym in the coming days and continue to dedicate himself to improving. That’s the right play, because the next one is crucial for his career.
4. Jim Miller’s still got it
When it’s all said and done with Jim Miller (31-13 MMA, 20-12 UFC) he will likely look back very fondly on his 58-second submission victory over Clay Guida (35-19 MMA, 15-13 UFC).
Not only did the triumph give Miller his first winning streak since 2016, but it made him the fifth fighter in UFC history to reach 20 octagon wins and added to his resume which already consisted of a plethora of records. And, oh yeah, he did it in front of his people in his home state of New Jersey.
Miller said prior to his fight with Guida that he was excited for retirement. He wants to embrace the moment an emotion of his final fight, but if he keeps winning like he did on Saturday, he may have to postpone any plans to walk away.
5. A moment for Kennedy Nzechukwu
He left the octagon with his first UFC win, but Kennedy Nzechukwu (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is definitely going to be worse for the ware after taking not one, not two, but three low blows during his fight with Darko Stosic (13-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC).
Stosic was so out of control with his inside leg kick accuracy that he caught Nzechukwu over and over and it led to multiple point deductions. Nzechukwu could’ve taken a disqualification win, but he chose to fight it out until the final bell.
The momentum of the fight was ruined by all the fouls and it wasn’t the best contest anyway, but Nzechukwu’s fighting spirit can’t be denied. I certainly don’t envy how he’s feeling today.
