Tag: UFC 268

Masvidal: Even With “All The Steroids,” Covington Still Won’t Have Power

UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal is backing Kamaru Usman at UFC 268, and doesn’t believe Colby Covington can come close to the champion’s power.

After two failed attempts at capturing the 170-pound gold, at UFC 251 and UFC 261, Masvidal will now sit…

Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington

UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal is backing Kamaru Usman at UFC 268, and doesn’t believe Colby Covington can come close to the champion’s power.

After two failed attempts at capturing the 170-pound gold, at UFC 251 and UFC 261, Masvidal will now sit back and watch another contender make their second crack at dethroning the dominant champ.

Having previously failed to do so at UFC 245, Covington will run it back with Usman in the UFC 268 main event this Saturday. In their 2019 clash, the pair fought hard for a competitive four rounds. With most scoring the contest 2-2 heading into the fifth frame, it appeared all to play for. With little time remaining, Usman successfully defended his belt for the first time with a final-round TKO.

Despite only fighting once since, a comfortable victory over a declining Tyron Woodley, the UFC granted “Chaos” a rematch with “The Nigerian Nightmare” over #3-ranked Leon Edwards, who is unbeaten in 10 fights since a defeat to Usman. The pair will headline the promotion’s blockbuster return to Madison Square Garden on November 6.

Masvidal Thinks Usman’s Power Will be Too Much For Covington

While Covington may have given Usman the toughest test of his welterweight reign to date, most are predicting a continuation of the champ’s dominance on Saturday. That includes Covington’s former teammate and fellow contender Jorge Masvidal. During a recent appearance on American Top Team’s Punchin’ In podcast, “Gamebred” revealed that not only does he want Usman to retain, he believes he’ll have no trouble doing so.

Having felt his power first hand at UFC 261, Masvidal believes “The Nigerian Nightmare” will have too much of it for “Chaos” to handle. After suggesting his former friend has always strived to find more strength on the feet, Masvidal claimed Covington can take “all the steroids” he wants, but it still won’t help the former interim champ build power.

“I think who’s gonna win and who I want to win is Usman. I think the power that he showed in his last fights and the little bit of gaps that he’s been making is where Colby’s never felt comfortable and just can’t produce power. He’s tried his whole life to do it, you know. He can take all the steroids he wants and he’s still not gonna have power.”

Whilst it’s not clear whether “Gamebred” is suggesting Covington has used PEDs or simply providing a hypothetical scenario, it certainly would be an ironic turn of events given Covington’s “CEO of EPO” nickname for his upcoming opponent.

Do you agree with Jorge Masvidal? Will Kamaru Usman leave Madison Square Garden with the welterweight gold?

Continue Reading Masvidal: Even With “All The Steroids,” Covington Still Won’t Have Power at MMA News.

The Countdown To UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2 Officially Begins

The fight week for arguably the best card of 2021 is finally upon us, and we are here to help get you ready for it.

At UFC 268, MMA fans will witness the long-awaited sequel of one of the best fights in UFC history when Kamaru Usman defends his wel…

UFC 268 Poster

The fight week for arguably the best card of 2021 is finally upon us, and we are here to help get you ready for it.

At UFC 268, MMA fans will witness the long-awaited sequel of one of the best fights in UFC history when Kamaru Usman defends his welterweight title against Colby Covington again. The bad blood between these two was well-chronicled leading up to their first fight two years ago, so buckle up because it could be a very turbulent fight week ahead.

Also on the card will be another title fight sequel with Rose Namajunas defending her strawweight championship against former champ Zhang Weili. And who could ever think to overlook the dream bout between two of the most exciting fighters in the UFC, Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler?

And that’s not all, UFC legend Frankie Edgar will also be in action as he takes on Marlon Vera, and the man who holds two kickboxing victories over Israel Adesanya, Alex Pereira, will make his UFC debut against Andreas Michailidis!

UFC 268 will come to you live from Madison Square Garden in New York, City. The early prelims begin at 6:00 PM ET followed by the next set of prelims beginning at 8:00 PM. Finally, the main card kicks off at 10:00 PM ET.

Visit our UFC 268 Event Hub for more information, including the complete fight card, details on how to order, and more.

Here is the UFC’s official Countdown video for UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2:

Continue Reading The Countdown To UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2 Officially Begins at MMA News.

UFC 268 Main Card Betting Preview

UFC 268The month of November kicks off with arguably the biggest MMA card of the year. UFC 268 takes place in New York on the 6th and boasts two title fights and a stacked card that will be available on pay-per-view. In the main event of the evening, Kamaru Usman will aim to defend his title […]

UFC 268

The month of November kicks off with arguably the biggest MMA card of the year. UFC 268 takes place in New York on the 6th and boasts two title fights and a stacked card that will be available on pay-per-view.

In the main event of the evening, Kamaru Usman will aim to defend his title against Colby Covington in an eagerly anticipated rematch. The 170lb duo first squared off at UFC 245 in one of the best welterweight title bouts of all time. Usman emerged victorious with a fifth-round TKO and has since gone on to defend his title against Jorge Masvidal (x2) and Gilbert Burns.

Before that, we have another rematch. Rose Namajunas scored a first-round KO win over Zhang Weili earlier this year to become the strawweight champion for a second time. An immediate rematch appeared unnecessary but with no standout contenders at 115lbs, the UFC decided to run this one back.

Away from the title fights, we have a three-round bout between two of the best lightweights on the planet Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler. Kickboxing sensation Alex Pereira makes his eagerly anticipated UFC debut.

Join LowKickMMA as we preview, predict, and hopefully win some money betting on the UFC 268 main card.

If you can’t wait until November 6 to win big check out the best online casinos.

Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington II

The bookmakers understandably fancy Kamaru Usman to retain his title at UFC 268. Not only is he facing someone he’s already beaten, but he’s also been the fighter who has shown improvements since facing Colby Covington at UFC 245. They’ve priced Usman at -300. In our opinion, that’s a little short but he is justifiably a favourite heading into this fight. Covington is +240 underdog and it’s hard to back him because of how inactive he’s been since he first fought Usman. Just one fight against Tyron Woodley who by that point was totally washed. While the champ has progressed his game and become perhaps the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, Covington has stagnated. For that reason, we will be putting our money on Usman to once again beat Covington when they square off at UFC 268.

Rose Namajunas vs. Zhang Weili II

It’s really tough to see a route to victory for Zhang Weili after she was so easily dealt with by Rose Namajunas earlier this year. ‘Thug’ dropped her with a head kick and then finished on the floor in just over a minute. Why are we doing this fight again? More importantly, why do the oddsmakers only have Namajunas as the slight -125 favourite? We’ll definitely be betting on Namajunas to beat the +100 underdog Weili and retain her title on November 6.

Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler

Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler will battle it out in one of the most eagerly anticipated fights of 2021. Both men are known for being in wild fights and are sure to deliver an actioned packed bout at UFC 268. Gaethje is deservedly the -175 favorite over Chandler who is priced at +150. ‘The Highlight’ is maybe the biggest puncher at 155lbs and has one of the best chins in the game. We think he’ll be able to take whatever Chandler brings on the feet before ultimately scoring a KO win at UFC 268.

Alex Pereira vs. Andreas Michailidis 

The only man to ever stop Israel Adesanya will make his eagerly anticipated UFC debut on the biggest card of the year. Alex Pereira has left kickboxing behind to fully focus his efforts on MMA. Despite his high-level striking, Pereira is something of a novice in MMA. The Brazilian boasts a 3-1 MMA record. It’s still unclear exactly how good he can be in this new sport. The bookmakers have him as the -250 favorite over Andreas Michailidis and we simply won’t be betting on him at those odds. You may need to pick the round to get any type of value on Pereira in this one.

Who will you be betting on at UFC 268?

Covington: Usman Rematch Will Be The Greatest Fight In UFC History

Former Interim UFC Welterweight Champion Colby Covington believes his rematch with 170-pound king Kamaru Usman at UFC 268 will be the greatest fight in UFC history. In just 10 days, Usman and Covington will meet inside the Octagon for the second time. The fierce rivals first collided back in December 2019. In the UFC 245 […]

Continue Reading Covington: Usman Rematch Will Be The Greatest Fight In UFC History at MMA News.

Former Interim UFC Welterweight Champion Colby Covington believes his rematch with 170-pound king Kamaru Usman at UFC 268 will be the greatest fight in UFC history.

In just 10 days, Usman and Covington will meet inside the Octagon for the second time. The fierce rivals first collided back in December 2019. In the UFC 245 main event, “The Nigerian Nightmare” defended his title for the first time. After four thrilling and competitive rounds, the pair entered the final frame with everything to play for. With less than a minute remaining, the champion secured a TKO finish, ensuring he left the cage with the gold still wrapped around his waist.

After three successful defenses, once against Gilbert Burns and twice opposite Jorge Masvidal, Usman is set to run it back with his toughest test to date. Despite the fact Covington has only recorded a sole victory over former champ Tyron Woodley since his first attempt to dethrone Usman, Dana White consistently maintained that “Chaos” was first in line following Masvidal’s failed attempt at capturing gold in April.

In the headlining fight of a stacked UFC 268 card, Usman and Covington will add another chapter to their rivalry inside New York City’s prestigious Madison Square Garden.

Covington Has Revenge On His Mind

While many believe Leon Edwards did enough to deserve a rematch with Usman over Covington, that hasn’t affected the anticipation and excitement for the November 6 main event. Given the barn burner they put on nearly two years ago, it’s unsurprising that the MMA community is expecting another war when the two elite welterweights clash again.

That feeling is no different for Covington himself. Speaking during a recent interview with Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole, the 33-year-old suggested his second shot at Usman’s gold is the perfect fight for a full Madison Square Garden crowd. “Chaos” said he’s targeting revenge on “The Nigerian Nightmare” in what he believes will be the greatest fight in the promotion’s history.

“I think the fans are in for a treat. It makes sense that this is being held in the Mecca of all arenas, Madison Square Garden. And the people are back. The pandemic’s pretty much over now, the ‘scamdemic’ so they want to call it. And this is gonna be the greatest fight, I think, in the UFC’s history. You have a guy in myself who’s hungrier than ever. I wake up every morning with revenge on my mind. And next weekend, revenge is a dish best served cold, and I’m gonna serve it cold to Marty next weekend at Madison Square Garden, live on pay-per-view.”

Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington
Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, Credit: Getty Images

Usman and Covington certainly tore the roof off the T-Mobile Arena in 2019, and they’ll be hoping to do the same in New York come November 6. Their matchup will certainly have adequate support throughout the night.

The stacked event also features a strawweight tile rematch between Rose Namajunas and Zhang Weili, a blockbuster lightweight clash between Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler, as well as names like Shane Burgos, Frankie Edgar, and Al Iaquinta all in action.

Who do you think will have their hand raised in the UFC 268 main event, Colby Covington or Kamaru Usman?

Continue Reading Covington: Usman Rematch Will Be The Greatest Fight In UFC History at MMA News.

Namajunas Would Still Befriend Weili, But ‘I Kicked Her In The Face’

Rose Namajunas believes that kicking someone in the face should not stop you from being friends with them. “Thug” Rose Namajunas is set to have a rematch with Zhang Weili, after taking the title from the then-champ earlier this year, becoming the first female fighter in UFC history to regain a belt that she lost. […]

Continue Reading Namajunas Would Still Befriend Weili, But ‘I Kicked Her In The Face’ at MMA News.

Rose Namajunas believes that kicking someone in the face should not stop you from being friends with them.

“Thug” Rose Namajunas is set to have a rematch with Zhang Weili, after taking the title from the then-champ earlier this year, becoming the first female fighter in UFC history to regain a belt that she lost. Prior to that first meeting, the Chinese champion had some nice things to say about the American, stating that she could even see the two of them being friends.

Speaking on The MMA Hour prior to their rematch at UFC 268, Namajunas said that she would still be down to have a friendly relationship with Weili. That being said, she does question whether or not this is something Weili would want, considering their last encounter ended with a head kick.

“I don’t know what to think of her. She said she wanted to be friends, so I’m still waiting for a proper introduction. Like, ‘Hello! How’s it going?’ But obviously, I kicked her in the face so she doesn’t want to be friends no more. So I don’t know.”

There are certainly other factors that could contribute to there not being a friendship between Namajunas and Weili, aside from their first fight’s outcome. This is not to say that there is bad blood between the two per se, but Namajunas certainly got some pushback for her controversial comments regarding the state of Communism in China, ahead of their first bout.

Nevertheless, Rose Namajunas will have a rematch with Zhang Weili at UFC 268, on November 6th, in the UFC’s return to Madison Square Garden. It will be interesting to see if these two form a friendly relationship by the end of this fight.

Continue Reading Namajunas Would Still Befriend Weili, But ‘I Kicked Her In The Face’ at MMA News.

Michael Chandler Names Justin Gaethje As His ‘Scariest’ Opponent

Michael ChandlerAhead of his UFC 268 bout, Michael Chandler has stated that his opponent Justin Gaethje is ‘scariest’ he has ever faced. Chandler and Gaethje are scheduled to square off on November 6 in what will be one of the most anticipated matchups of the year. Both men are very well known for their fan-friendly, all-action […]

Michael Chandler

Ahead of his UFC 268 bout, Michael Chandler has stated that his opponent Justin Gaethje is ‘scariest’ he has ever faced.

Chandler and Gaethje are scheduled to square off on November 6 in what will be one of the most anticipated matchups of the year. Both men are very well known for their fan-friendly, all-action style and if it gels, could be a fight of the year type fight.

This will mark Chandler’s third appearance for the promotion 10 months since joining the UFC in early 2021, debutin by knocking out Dan Hooker in round one. Chandler last fought back in May in a losing battle to current lightweight champion Charles Olivera for the vacant 155lb belt, in what was one of the most exciting fights of the year.

This will mark Gaethje’s first fight in over a year, since his submission loss to then-champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Before the loss, Gaethje was riding a four-fight win streak including a dominant performance over Tony Ferguson for the interim UFC lightweight title.

In an interview with Brett Okamoto, Chandler had this to say about ‘The Highlight’- “I will say that I think Justin Gaethje is the scariest guy I’ve ever fought, he’s the craziest guy I’ve ever fought. I’ve fought some very tough guys is the past but he takes the cake.

“Listen when people say stuff like that [enjoying when a fight gets tough] it’s always blunder unless it Justin Gaethje, I truly believe when he says those things, the dude really thinks that.”

Although the pair are set to battle in what could be a bout that could determine who would be next in the line for a title shot, there seems to be a huge amount of mutual respect. Chandler had this to say “His name was one was of the names I said when I first got into the UFC I was excited to fight Justin Gaethje. I was excited to compete against him because I truly respect him, if I was a fan and I wasn’t in the sport of mixed martial arts he would be one of my favrioute fighters.”

What do you think? Could Michael Chandler vs. Justin Gaethje be a fight of the year contender?