Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Tyron Woodley and Colby Covington face off tonight (Sat. Sept. 19, 2020) in a main event Welterweight clash from inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. This has been the year of last-second main events, but this bout has been brewing for years now. The two rivals nearly clashed for the undisputed title at one point, but ultimately, injuries and contract negotiations kept them apart until tonight. Fortunately, the two will finally get a chance to settle the bad blood, and there’s significant career implications for each man.
Sadly, there was nothing competitive about this main event. Covington pressed Woodley into the fence for the majority of five rounds, landing hard kicks all the while and sneaking lots of elbows in the process.
Round One
The two trade low kicks early. Covington times a double leg takedown perfectly and plants his opponent on the mat. From full guard, Covington lands a couple punches, but Woodley returns to his feet rather quickly. In the clinch, Covington is pressing his opponent into the fence. Woodley escapes! Covington pressuring, looking to land his left kick. Woodley punches the mid-section, takes a hard body kick. Big right hand on the shift scores for Covington, and he’s back in the clinch. Covington lands a couple elbows in-close. Another hard elbow connects on the break. Woodley lands a counter punch to the belly, but he’s immediately jammed back into the cage. One more elbow connects before the end of the round.
Round Two
Covington lands a shift hook early after a couple blocked kicks. Woodley lands his first glancing right to the jaw, followed by a good low kick. Body kick scores for “Chaos.” Jump knee into a shot doesn’t exactly work, but it lands Covington in the clinch where he wants to be. Woodley escapes, but he’s stuck on his back foot. Switch-kick to the mid-section for Covington, and the two are wrestling! Woodley threatens a guillotine, but Covington drives him into the fence regardless. Yet another elbow on the break. Good body shot scores for Woodley, then he pursues his own clinch … and gets reversed into the fence. Covington kicks the body. Another one, harder. Woodley kicks the lead leg. Superman punch off the cage lands for “T-Wood!” Covington connects on a hard right hand, but Woodley fires back and scores too. Covington lands a knee to the body near the end of the round.
Round Three
Eye poke from Covington draws an early pause in the action. Woodley momentarily aggressive on the restart, but Covington connects on the check hook and left kick. Overhand left scores for “Chaos.” Glancing right for Woodley prompts Covington to jam him into the fence. Covington attacks a single leg, but Woodley defends well. Woodley with a couple knees to the body. Elbow from Covington. Covington active with small strikes, but nothing major is happening along the fence. Left elbow-right uppercut lands in the final seconds of the round.
Round Four
Covington starts the round with a quick jab and hard high kick. Good body kick return from Woodley, followed by a pair of low kicks. Covington goes Orthodox, throws a right hand, then shoots. Woodley is threatening the guillotine, but he’s taken down from the high-crotch. Covington secures the two-on-one control and sneaks a few punches before Woodley escapes back to guard. Elbow scores for “Chaos.” Woodley is cut! Covington traps the arm again, fires punches with his free hand. Covington really going to work after finally establishing top control. Nothing overly major lands throughout the rest of the land, but Woodley is still covered in blood by the end of it.
Round Five
Covington kicks his foe into the fence in the opening 10 seconds of the fifth. Covington kicking well early, but Woodley defends his first takedown. Big lift sees Covington complete another takedown. Out of nowhere, Woodley is injured, and the fight is over … but really it was over long ago.
Result: Colby Covington defeats Tyron Woodley via fifth-round TKO (injury)
For complete UFC Vegas 11: “Woodley vs. Covington” results and play-by-play, click HERE!