Last week, MMA fans around the world were left disappointed after hearing the fight between Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev was being canceled for the third time. The UFC is no longer interested in this matchup and is now looking ahead at another bout for Leon. New reports indicate Covington vs. Edwards is the most-likely scenario.
Colby Covington is without a doubt one of the best welterweight fighters in the UFC. He seems more interested in taking a fight with the champion, Kamaru Usman, though. Now is a great time to talk about what exactly is happening in the 170-pound division.
Let’s get into it!
Kamaru Usman Establishes Himself as the Best Welterweight Alive
On March 2, 2019, Kamaru Usman put on one of the most dominant UFC title performances of all-time against Tyson Woodley. Many felt this fight would be a back-and-forth battle. Instead, Usman continuously took Woodley down and landed hard shots on the feet to earn the decision victory.
Some fans were still skeptical of how good Usman really was. He was known for beating fighters by decision and there were questions about his finishing instinct. In his first title defense, Usman defeated Colby Covington via 5th-round TKO in one of the best fights of 2019.
Six months later, Kamaru dominated Jorge Masvidal and earned another decision victory. This win proved he was amongst the best fighters in the UFC. He was then matched up against his former training partner, Gilbert Burns.
Most online sportsbooks listed Usman as the favorite heading into this fight. There were some that believed Burns had the skills to defeat Kamaru. Rumors were circulating that Gilbert would get the better of the champion inside the training room.
Usman began taking over in the second round. Early in the third, he dropped Burns with a punch and unloaded with shots on the ground to get the TKO victory. There is now zero doubt that Usman is the best welterweight fighter in the world.
Several fighters are closing in on the next title shot. That includes Leon Edwards, one of the UK’s best mixed martial artists. The UFC is now scrambling to find Leon a new opponent.
Dana White Hints at Covington vs. Edwards Taking Place Soon
The fight between Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev has been booked on three different occasions. Each time, the fight has fallen through. It’s now a running joke amongst fans that this bout is cursed and the UFC no longer seems interested in making it happen.
Khamzat needs time to recover, yet Leon seems ready to compete. Not long ago, reports surfaced that Dana White wanted to book Covington vs. Edwards soon. The winner would likely be guaranteed a shot at the title next.
Colby doesn’t seem interested. “Chaos” spoke with Submission Radio recently and shot the idea of this fight down. Ultimately, he believes that a title rematch against Kamaru Usman is the only thing that makes sense right now.
“‘Leon Scott’ hasn’t earned anything,” Colby said. “I’m in the Colby Covington Incorporated championship business. I’m not in the Leon Scott charity business. This isn’t charity hour, man. I’m fighting at the top of the mountain. I’m fighting the best in the world… The people want to see one fight, they want to see the rematch, ‘Marty Fakenewsman,’ Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington Part 2. Are you (expletive) kidding me? It’s a joke. It was the biggest corruption in the history of the sport. Are you kidding me? I was destroying him. He got lucky, and he knows that.”
Colby might be disappointed to hear the UFC is moving towards booking Masvidal vs. Usman 2 next. If that is indeed the case, Covington vs. Edwards makes the most sense. Both men are at the top of the welterweight rankings and need one more win to earn a title fight.
Nothing has been made official yet. We’re likely to hear what is coming next at welterweight sometime in the next few weeks. Stay tuned for updates!
Odds on Usman vs. Masvidal 2 Are Now Available Online!
Kamaru Usman’s victory last Saturday was incredible. He showed a different level in his boxing and finished one of the scariest fighters in the welterweight division. After the bout, he seemed to call out Jorge Masvidal, a man he defeated back in July of 2020.
Some were confused at this call-out. Usman seems to be giving Masvidal a golden ticket to the title, regardless of whether he deserves it. The UFC knows Jorge is a massive star and seems interested in making this bout happen next.
BetOnline, one of the best online sportsbooks in the US, is now offering odds on Usman vs. Masvidal 2! This is certainly a big rematch. Many fans have questions as to how it will play out when both men have full training camps.
Kamaru Usman comes in as the -310 favorite in this fight. He already dominated Masvidal in the past and seems to consistently get better every time he competes. There aren’t many reasons to think he loses in a rematch.
There is a question as to how Jorge Masvidal will fare against Usman with a full training camp. The first time they competed, he took the fight on just six-days notice. Nevertheless, he comes into this bout as the +260 underdog.
Covington vs. Edwards could decide who faces the winner of Usman vs. Masvidal 2. Let us know who you think wins all of these bouts in the comments section below!
Kevin Oldroyd
A longtime sports and gambling enthusiast, Kevin looks to present up-to-date and reliable information for readers. If he’s not writing, he’s probably watching MMA or playing blackjack. …
