Midnight Mania! Did Usman Just Back Covington For UFC 296?

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Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has an opinion or two on who will win Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington this weekend at UFC 296, especially considering he’s shared the Octagon with both men a combined five times.

This weekend’s welterweight title fight between the current champion, Edwards, and a now three-time UFC title challenger, Covington, is the last big fight of the year for the promotion. There’s a good size buzz around the welterweight grudge match and that has brought out the media to discuss the matchup.

Usman joined former UFC champion and current color commentary, Daniel Cormier, on a recent episode of “DC & RC” to discuss the impending title fight. “Nigerian Nightmare” has logged some serious minutes inside of the cage with both Covington and Edwards so his view on the matchup should be held at the highest regard.

Surprisingly, Usman paid a lot of respect to Covington’s persistence for the takedown, cardio, and ability to overwhelm his opponents with volume. Usman even admitted that his two contests against Covington were truly “neck and neck” fights.

Check out the interview below:

“Colby Covington is not going to stop trying to get that takedown,” said Usman. “That’s what he differs from you and I. We can adjust because we can strike. We’ve got the power to be able to hurt a guy and put him out. Colby Covington is not going to deviate away from the plan, especially when he knows, ‘This guy’s not a national champion. This guy’s not an All-American. This guy’s a striker that has learned how to defend takedowns using the cage. I am going to shoot takedowns as much as I can until I get him down.’

“Going by my fights, I’m going to be honest with you. I’m being straight up with you. Colby Covington fought me neck and neck. I just had to outclass him towards the end.”

“Colby Covington doesn’t care,” Usman later added. “You saw him when he fought Robbie Lawler. He’s going to shoot repeatedly and then he’s going to put the pressure on you and he’s going to strike and strike and strike. The first one might not hurt you. The second one might not hurt you. But maybe the 18th one might be the one to hurt you.”

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