WELTERWEIGHT contender, Colby Covington, says he thought he won the title fight against champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 268 at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
After an entertaining bout, which went the entire five rounds, the judges scored the fight 9-46, 48-47 and 48-47 in favour of the Nigerian Nightmare, who successfully defended his title for the fifth consecutive time.
The victory is Usman’s second over Covington, who he first beat via knockoutin his first title defence in 2019.
According to the fight statistics, Usman landed more significant strikes on Covington: 123 to 107, and also knocked down the American twice in the second round, only to be saved by the bell.
Covington, however, insists he should have had his hands lifted, saying he clearly won the third, fourth and fifth rounds.
“I’m definitely not proud of my performance,” Covington said while addressing the media. “I should have won that. It was laser thin again. I honestly thought I had it 3-2. It was very close. He clipped me, I clipped him a couple of times.
“I think we have unfinished business. I’ll give five more rounds out in the parking lot right now. I’m serious about that. I will see him again. I’m not done with him.”
“I still think I was right there,” Covington added.
“I didn’t think he clearly won (rounds) one and two. Maybe round two because he clipped me but round one was very close. I don’t know you can just outright give it to him. It was a very close fight. Whatever judge put it 49-46 is out of their f*cking mind.”
