After months of trash talking and bad blood, Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington finally got back into the octagon Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. 

And Usman came out on top. Again. 

Usman — the welterweight champion — defended his belt, winning via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) at UFC 268. 

It’s been nearly two years since the two fighters fought in an epic match at UFC 245, where Usman won via a fifth round TKO. The much-hyped rematch did not disappoint. 

Usman nearly ended the night in the second round, knocking Covington down twice with two left hands, but Covington was able to get through it. 

MASSIVE left from Usman and he wobbles Covington 😳 #UFC268 pic.twitter.com/cd4igi57I0

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 7, 2021

“He’s tough. He’s super tough,” Usman said. “I wanted to get crazy and get him out of there. But that’s not what the best do.”

Covington was able to bounce back in the third round, forcing the fight to go the distance. 

After the fight, the two fighters shook hands and embraced, appearing to bury the hatchet. 

“I just gotta give it up,” Usman said after the fight. “I know there was a lot of trash talk and bad blood and there’s still going to be some after tonight. But he’s a tough son of a b—. … I mean, when you share an octagon with someone this tough, you can’t help it. That respect is going to come. He hit me with some shots and I could tell they’ve been working on it. The power came up a little bit and I could tell they had been working on it. I had to give him that respect.”

With the victory, Usman is now 20-1 and has won 15 straight fights in the UFC. 

“Usman is just the best ever. He’s the best welterweight of all time,” UFC president Dana White said at the post-fight news conference. “He’s on his way to possible [greatest of all time] status.”

Covington initially was gracious in defeat, saying that Usman “had the better night” in his interview in the octagon with Joe Rogan. He quickly changed his tune. 

In his post-fight press conference, Covington said that he believes he broke his foot early in the fight on a calf kick that landed on Usman’s knee. He also questioned the judges’ decision. 

“I’m definitely not proud of my performance,” Covington said when addressing the media. “I should have won that. It was laser thin

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