Colby Covington’s run toward another welterweight title shot continued Saturday night with an emphatic fifth-round TKO victory over former champion Tyron Woodley at UFC on ESPN+ 36 in Las Vegas.
No surprises here.
The bad blood is settled RIGHT NOW 🤬
[ Tune in on #ESPNPlus now ] pic.twitter.com/ZyP32u5baW
— UFC (@ufc) September 20, 2020
The bad blood between the two continued into the fight but Covington used his wrestling and strikes to pile up the points on Woodley, particuarly in the fourth round, where he landed 113 strikes to Woodley’s two.
Covington’s onslaught continued in the fifth, with the referee stopping the bout in the fifth round due to a rib injury sustained by Woodley.
The win puts Covington back into the winner’s circle after getting stopped by Kamaru Usman in his previous contest. Woodley has now lost three consecutive bouts.
Mackenzie Dern, Randy Costa, Damon Jackson, and Khamzat Chimaev all earned performances of the night and a $50,000 USD bonus apiece.
Cashing in on a WILD night of fights!
💰: @KChimaev
💵: @MackenzieDern
💸: @RandyCosta135
🤑: Damon Jackson pic.twitter.com/SI6iexwtoc— UFC (@ufc) September 20, 2020
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card.
In case you missed the prelims:
TYSON NAM DEF. JEROME RIVERA VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R2 0:34
ANDRE EWELL DEF. IRWIN RIVERA VIA SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
RANDY COSTA DEF. JOURNEY NEWSON VIA KO (HEAD KICK) R1 0:41
DARRICK MINER DEF. T.J. LARAMIE VIA SUBMISSION (GUILLOTINE CHOKE) R1 0:52
JESSICA ROSE-CLARK DEF. SARAH ALPER VIA TKO (PUNCH AND KNEE) R3 4:21
MAYRA BUENO SILVA DEF. MARA ROMERO BORELLA VIA SUBMISSION (ARMBAR) R1 2:29
DAMON JACKSON DEF. MIRSAD BEKTIC VIA SUBMSSION (GUILOTINE CHOKE) R3 1:21
DAVID DVORAK DEF. JORDAN ESPINOSA VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
MAIN CARDÂ
KEVIN HOLLAND VS. DARREN STEWARTÂ
CHINS OF GRANITE!
These two are just TRADING back and forth 😳
[ Watch on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/61rR8YjUUZ
— UFC (@ufc) September 20, 2020
KEVIN HOLLAND VIA SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: KEVIN HOLLAND VIA UD
Andrews: Good fight. Stewart put in a strong third round but it wasn’t enough.
#15 MACKENZIE DERN VS. RANDA MARKOS
SIMPLY UNSTOPPABLE.
Never, ever go to the ground with @MackenzieDern 🇧🇷
[ #UFCVegas11 – LIVE on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/pMN6F4Udv4
— UFC (@ufc) September 20, 2020
WINNER: MACKENZIE DERN VIA SUBMISSION (ARMBAR) R1 3:44
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MACKENZIE DERN VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews:Â This will be a good test for Dern. Is her striking and grappling good enough to overcome the veteran Markos? Dern’s improvements should be revealed or exposed in this contest.
Andrews Prediction: Mackenzie Dern via submission
#11 JOHNNY WALKER VS. #12 RYAN SPANN
SOUND ON 🔊@JohnnyWalker ends it with DEVASTATING ELBOWS!
[ #UFCVegas11 – LIVE on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/Bzl9lAthfh
— UFC (@ufc) September 20, 2020
WINNER: JOHNNY WALKER VIA TKO. (ELBOWS AND PUNCHES) R1 2:43
ANDREWS PREDICTION: RYAN SPANN VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: What a comeback by Walker. Great win, but there is still work to do.
KHAMZAT CHIMAEV VS. GERALD MEERSCHEART
ARE YOU SERIOUS!? #UFCVegas11 pic.twitter.com/ihvYCLVTYX
— UFC (@ufc) September 20, 2020
WINNER: KHAMZAT CHIMAEV VIA TKO (STRIKES) R1 0:17
ANDREWS PREDICTION: KHAMZAT CHIMAEV VIA TKO
Andrews: Wow!
DONALD CERRONE VS. NIKKO PRICEÂ
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1307501053542359042?s=20
WINNER: MAJORITY DRAW (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: NIKO PRICE VIA TKO
Andrews: The eye poke cost Price big time. Cerrone didn’t lose but he didn’t look great. Time to hang them up, Cowboy.
MAIN EVENT
#2 COLBY COVINGTON VS. #5 TYRON WOODLEY
WINNER: COLBY COVINGTON VIA TKO (DOCTOR’S STOPPAGE) R5 1:19
ANDREWS PREDICTION: COLBY COVINGTON VIA TKO
Andrews: Covington looked strong, while Woodley faded. It’s time for Woodley to hang them up, just like Cowboy.
