Despite months of trading barbs both via social media and in person, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman insists that there is solid mutual respect between him and Colby Covington.
Usman defended his title against Covington in a convincing unanimous decision win. After the fight, some may have been surprised to see the pair embrace and shake hands.
Usman Describes “Mutual Respect” with Covington
Not Kamaru. “I’m not surprised. We’ve shared pretty much an hour with each other inside that cage. I don’t care who you are, there’s a mutual respect that just comes alive. It’s the spirit of competition. The spirit of martial arts.
It’s just two competitors. We went to war. We spent almost an hour together inside that cage. I’ll leave [what was said] between me and him.”
Usman is now 2-0 against Colby Covington, who many consider to be the greatest threat to his reign as welterweight king. Their last fight ended in a fifth-round TKO win for Usman, who has since defended his title against Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal, twice.
Usman stunned Covington twice in the second round, showcasing his improved striking, and he was complimentary of his longtime nemesis and his ability to come back and arguably win the third round. “It’s very, very hard not to get crazy when you hurt someone like that.
But I know he did his homework. He went to a good team. Those guys at MMA Masters are good coaches and they prepared him well. He stayed very poised and very controlled. That’s why he didn’t try to get crazy cause I would have found the shot and put him away.
Like I said, as a competitor, I respect him. That’s the next best guy in the division.It didn’t surprise me. He’s a great competitor. I know this. We both knew that. It didn’t surprise me.
That’s why I had to stay poised, just listen to my coaches cause I really wanted to get him out of there. Once I start feeling like a giant in there, I’m like a tank and I want to just get him out of there.
But I understand in this game it’s about using your mental cause we’re both physically adequate and we’re prepared. I stayed composed and got the job done.”
It’s not clear who the next opponent for Usman is, although Leon Edwards has long claimed he deserves a shot at the champ. Who do you think is next for Kamaru “The Nigerian Nightmare” Usman? Let us know in the comments.
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