Welterweight challenger Colby Covington (15-2-0) made things interesting with a gritty performance, but Kamaru Usman (16-1-0) successfully defended his title in Las Vegas Saturday night with a fifth round stoppage in the main event of UFC 245.
Covington drew much of the ire in the crowd, but took a page from Alexander Volkanovski, using a high energy pace to draw Usman in. But from the walkout, Usman was calm and collected.
With nary a takedown in sight, both wrestlers battled it out on the feet, with Covington landing good shots that made Usman think. But a suspected broken jaw after the third round affected his output and Usman started to move in.
It took the final round for some separation, in which Usman landed some hard shots and knocked down Covington. The “Nigerian Nightmare” swarmed with more shots and hammerfists that forced him into a shell. Referee Marc Goddard called the fight at 4:10.
With the win, Usman has now won 15 straight contests. Covington had a seven fight win streak snapped and exited the octagon immediately after the loss.
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1206119230325719040
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1206118067966660608
Usman and Covington earned Fight of the Night while Petr Yan and Irene Aldana took home performances of the night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the card.
UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS
PUNAHELE SORIANO VS. OSKAR PIECHOTA
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1205993314547326977
WINNER: PUNAHELE SORIANO VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R1 3:17
ANDREWS PREDICTION: PUNAHELE SORIANO VIA TKO
Andrews: Soriano came in like his car was double-parked and got Piechota out of there fast. Great win.
#2 JESSICA EYE VS. #5 VIVIANE ARAJUO
Back in the win column! ✅@JessicaEvilEye with the UD at #UFC245! 👏 pic.twitter.com/PhEsihDk9X
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2019
WINNER: JESSICA EYE VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: VIVIANE ARAJUO VIA UD
Andrews: Good win for Eye, but she missed weight.
#5 BRANDON MORENO VS. #6 KAI KARA-FRANCE
Great showcase for the flyweight division!
Give it up for @TheAssassinBaby and @KaiKaraFrance! 👏#UFC245 pic.twitter.com/vmcUj30Vge
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2019
WINNER: BRANDON MORENO VIA UD (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: KAI KARA-FRANCE VIA UD
Andrews: The aggressiveness of Moreno overcame Kara-France.
CHASE HOOPER VS. DANIEL TEYMUR
The Dream is alive and well! 🙌@Chase_Hooper with a successful R1 victory at #UFC245!
📺 Watch LIVE on @UFCFightPass NOW! pic.twitter.com/C3ck3Fc1mn
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2019
WINNER: CHASE HOOPER VIA TKO (ELBOWS) R1 4:34
ANDREWS PREDICTION: DANIEL TEYMUR VIA UD
Andrews: Wow! Hooper almost got caught, but turned things around impressively. To be 20 years old and victorious in the UFC.
PRELIMS
MATT BROWN VS. BEN SAUNDERS
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1206022042614665216
WINNER: MATT BROWN VIA TKO (ELBOWS AND PUNCHES) R2 4:55
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MATT BROWN VIA TKO
Andrews: Yep. Brown eventually wore Saunders down and then pounded him out.
IAN HEINISCH VS. OMARI AKHMEDOV
HUGE slam from @Omari_Akhmedov! 😤#UFC245 pic.twitter.com/Pvgjv870cH
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2019
WINNER: OMAR AKHMEDOV VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: IAN HEINISCH VIA UD
Andrews: Good win for Omar, but again, not a barnburner of a fight.
#2 KETLEN VIEIRA VS. #10 IRENE ALDANA
OHHHHHHHHH! 😱
Picture perfect left hook from @IreneAldana_! #UFC245
📺 Watch LIVE on ESPN 2 NOW! pic.twitter.com/bcp4I5x7Vu
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2019
WINNER: IRENE ALDANA VIA TKO (PUNCH) R1 4:51
ANDREWS PREDICTION: KETLEN VIEIRA VIA UD
Andrews: Wow! That’s the first flash of brilliance from Aldana in the octagon. Let’s hope it continues.
#14 GEOFF NEAL VS. MIKE PERRY
WINNER: GEOFF NEAL VIA TKO (HEAD KICK AND PUNCHES) R1 1:30
Andrews: That was pretty quick. Excellent work from Neal.
MAIN CARD
#4 PETR YAN VS. #12 URIJAH FABER
NO. MERCY. 😤
🇷🇺 @PetrYanUFC finishes Faber with a flush head kick in R3! #UFC245
Get the E+ PPV ➡️ https://t.co/l5vGF5X6h1 #UFC245 pic.twitter.com/R5lS7Ugkwo
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2019
WINNER: PETR YAN VIA TKO (HEAD KICK) R3 0:43
ANDREWS PREDICTION: PETR YAN VIA TKO
Andrews: As predicted, Yan overcame Faber and produced a great moment.
#1 MARLON MORAES VS. JOSE ALDO
Close one to call at BW!@MMarlonMoraes and @JoseAldoJunior go the distance – how's your scorecards looking? #UFC245 📝 pic.twitter.com/bRLD3irzTb
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2019
WINNER: MARLON MORAES VIA SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MARLON MORAES VIA UD
Andrews: Aldo did well but Marlon impressed the judges more, somehow.
AMANDA NUNES VS. #1 GERMAINE DE RANDAMIE
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS. 🏆@Amanda_Leoa and @IronLadyMMA leaving it all in the Octagon! #UFC245 pic.twitter.com/6XL6AnAJES
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2019
WINNER: AMANDA NUNES VIA UD (49-44, 49-46, 49-45)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: AMANDA NUNES VIA TKO
Andrews: Moral victories are unacceptable at this level, but De Randamie should not be ashamed of her performance. She almost put Nunes away in the fourth.
MAX HOLLOWAY VS. #1 ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI
🗣️ "Australia, I'm bringing it back home!"
🇦🇺🏆 @AlexVolkanovski #UFC245 pic.twitter.com/X7wNhXzfCt
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2019
WINNER: ALEXANDER VOLKANOVKSI VIA UD (48-47, 48-47, 50-45)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MAX HOLLOWAY VIA UD
Andrews: Wow! Impressive showing by Alexander the Great! No one has been able to do it like that to Max!
MAIN EVENT
KAMARU USMAN VS. #2 COLBY COVINGTON
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1206104165979738113
WINNER: KAMARU USMAN VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R5 4:10
ANDREWS PREDICTION: KAMARU USMAN VIA UD
Andrews: Wow! Give Covington credit – he came to fight – but Usman slowly turned up the heat and then pounded him out late.
@kenaiandrews
