Colby Covington to get first title shot against new UFC champ Kamaru Usman

Bloodyelbow.com

Colby Covington will finally get a crack at UFC gold.

The welterweight contender will meet new champion Kamaru Usman on a to-be-determined card in Usman’s first title defense, ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reported early Sunday morning after UFC 235. The UFC has not yet officially announced Usman vs. Covington as the next welterweight title fight.

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Usman won the 170-pound title against Tyron Woodley in the co-main event of UFC 235, which took place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Usman dominated Woodley for five rounds to end Woodley’s title reign, which lasted over two and a half years. Woodley defended the belt four times.

Covington attended UFC 235 and was present in Las Vegas all fight week. He showed up to Usman’s open workout with a megaphone, yelling at Usman and calling himself the real champion.

Covington also issued an ultimatum to UFC president Dana White, saying he either wants the next title shot or his release from the UFC. Covington tracked White down at a Las Vegas casino while White was gambling and posted a video online. After Covington agreed to turn off his camera, he and White had a brief conversation, according to both Covington and White.

In his upset win, “The Nigerian Nightmare” extended his winning streak in the UFC to 10 in a row; Usman, who hasn’t lost since his second pro fight, remained undefeated in the promotion. Usman earned the title shot against Woodley by defeating former lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos last November. And before that, he dominated former welterweight title challenger Demian Maia.

Covington hasn’t fought since a June 2018 interim-title win over dos Anjos. “Chaos” was stripped of the interim title after he couldn’t make a Woodley title fight last September due to recovery from surgery. Woodley ended up fighting Darren Till instead, winning by second-round submission. Covington also holds a high-profile win over Maia.