UFC fighters pick Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington 2 winner | UFC 268
This Saturday’s main event is a highly-anticipated rematch between welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and challenger Colby Covington.
Usman stopped Covington in round five of their first bout at UFC 245 in 2019 after managing to drop him twice in the final minute of the fight to force a technical knockout stoppage.
Since then, Usman has defeated Jorge Masvidal twice and also Gilbert Burns to now be regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC per the official rankings.
Will Covington be able to score a major upset victory at UFC 268 this weekend or will it be Usman who secures another victory and defends his title once more?
James Lynch asked UFC fighters for their Usman vs. Covington predictions before UFC 268 and here’s what they said.
How to watch UFC 268
Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington is the UFC 268 main event this Saturday night. The only way to watch UFC 268 live in the United States is by ordering on ESPN+ here.
Existing ESPN+ subscribers can purchase the UFC 268 PPV for $69.99.
New ESPN+ subscribers can purchase the UFC 268 & ESPN+ Bundle for $89.99.
The UFC 268 &
Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington 2 predictions
Stephen Thompson
“Well, the fact, you know, we haven’t seen Colby Covington since this fight with Tyron Woodley and that’s been a while. But we have seen the improvement, the tremendous improvement in Kamaru Usman. We know he’s a phenomenal wrestler. He’s got a gas tank, but now he’s finishing guys. He just knocked out one of the best strikers in the welterweight division, Jorge Masvidal and he’s putting people to sleep.
“He put Gilbert Burns to sleep with the jab. So he’s improving everywhere, not just his wrestling, but his striking as well. I think I got Kamaru Usman. Kamaru Usman is going to put it on Colby Covington — put it on him. His striking is better than the last time they fought.
“He’s a very big welterweight. He’s a very strong welterweight and I think it’s going to go the same way he did last time. But in shorter time, you know, their wrestling is going to be neutral. They’re going to neutralize the wrestling. Both of them, they’re going to keep the fight standing and Kamaru is going to put him to sleep.”
0:16 – James Lynch’s MMA Pros Pick
Brian Kelleher
“Yeah, I can’t go against Usman man. He beat him the first time and you know, it was a back and forth competitive fight, but Usman was definitely hurting him a lot more in that fight and got the finish late at the end.
“Uh, you know, uh, Colby obviously has a lot of things to say about it and different excuses but I think Usman is just on another level right now. We’ve seen him knock out Jorge Masvidal and that’s not easy to do. We don’t see that a lot. So he definitely got power in his hands now to put guys away. I think he gets the job done probably by decision again, though.”
1:36 – James Lynch’s MMA Pros Pick
Gerald Meerschaert
“I don’t know how you can not pick Kamaru Usman. It was a somewhat competitive fight, it was exciting, but Usman has just looked great I think I’m going to have to go with him.”
1:01 – James Lynch’s MMA Pros Pick
Anthony Smith
“Usman. He’s by far grown the most between those two. He’s been busier, especially now, since he’s been here in Colorado with Trevor Wittman, he just, his whole swag is different. The way he moves is different. He seemingly has like, uh, a plan, now, you know, he sets traps and he’s calm in there he’s not as uncomfortable on the feet.
“I think that he’s gotten significantly better since the first time they fought in his last couple of fights. And we can’t even say that about Colby cause he had his own fight one time. So, I think that Usman’s gonna blow him out of the water.”
0:05 – James Lynch’s MMA Pros Pick
Kevin Lee
“I’ll go with Usman. I’ll go with Usman even though it’s going to be a tough fight. Covington has had a long time off, he’s had a lot of time to think about that first fight so he’s going to make some adjustments but I feel like Usman still has the upper edge on that.”
0:05 – James Lynch’s MMA Pros Pick
Al Iaquinta
“This is going to be such a good fight. We haven’t really seen Colby too much but Usman has been getting better and better and better so I’m going to have to lean toward Usman but you can never count Colby out. Those two guys are relentless.”
