KAMARU USMAN & Colby Covington were mocked after they embraced at the end their five-round fight at UFC 268.
In December 2019, the Nigerian champion beat Covington again, achieving a unanimous victory in their rematch in New York.
After their brawl, Usman and Covington reunited
Both men made it clear that they disliked one another in the weeks leading up to the rematch.
After the fight, they came together to show respect and put their rivalry to rest.
Usman and Covington exchanged encouragements inside the octagon before referee Dan Miragliotta gave them praises for their sportsmanship.
"Ahh, that's what I like," said the ref. Bravo, gentlemen. Much respect, much respect."
They reunited once again and shared their animosity. The Madison Square Garden crowd gave them a round of applause.
Miragliotta made fun of the couple's decision to ensconce in the ring this time.
He said, "Alright, go kiss later. Return to your corners. Get out!
Joe Rogan, UFC analyst/commentator, said that the feud was about making money and not love.
"This is a rare opportunity to see Colby Covington in person. He drops the fake persona that he puts on."
All three judges scoredcards gave Usman the nod 48-47 48–47 49–46
The 34-year old retains his 19-fight winning streak. This run dates back to his 2013 professional MMA loss.
This was his fifth defense of the UFC Welterweight Championship, which he held since beating Tyron woodley in March 2019.
After the fight, Usman, the pound-for-pound superstar, said that he was the best pound-for pound fighter alive at the moment.
"I'm going to tell you something, he's tough [Covington]. He is super tough. I wanted to be crazy and get him out.
"But that's not how the best do it. We take our time, stay calm, listen to our coaches, and find the end.
"Unfortunately, that's not the best guy in the Division. He's a tough gun son and he was not going to let me finish that.
