Former interim UFC welterweight champion #2. Colby Covington (16-2) scored the biggest victory of his career with a dominant and bloody finish of former champion #5. Tyron Woodley (19-6-1) in round-five on Saturday. “UFC FIGHT NIGHT: COVINGTON vs. WOODLY” was streamed live on ESPN+ from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas.
Woodley entered into this fight having potentially lost his last 10-rounds, having been outworked for 50 minutes; losing the UFC welterweight title to Kamaru Usman, and punished by Gilbert Burns. Woodley entered the Covington fight with something to prove and needed to be at his absolute best to avoid a third-consecutive loss. The stage was set for Woodley, who was once again put into the main event slot against a dangerous and passionate martial artist in Covington.
This fight was supposed to have been explosive. It was supposed to have been a passionate and spirited battle between two artists that simply didn’t like one another. There was explosiveness. There was passion and skill on display. Instead, Covington rose to the occasion on perhaps the biggest night of his career. Covington was the only one that brought the rage and intensity inside the Octagon. It was Covington’s night, as Woodley fizzled on what appeared to be his worst night as a professional fighter.
Seconds into the fight, Covington charged and easily dropped Woodley to the mat. Woodley worked his way back to his feet to engage Covington into a stand-up. Covington closed the distance behind hard kicks and a huge right that trapped Woodley against the ropes. Covington landed several knees against Woodley’s thigh, as Covington pressured his opponent against the cage.
As the fight continued, Woodley was reduced from being former world champion to Covington’s human punching bag. Woodley found himself either eating kicks and punches during the stand-up, or bullied against the cage. Woodley got eye-poked in the third-round and didn’t appear eager to confront Covington. Woodley didn’t have the killer instinct that made him a UFC star. Woodley absorbed punishment from a guy that was intent on hurting him.
At age 38, has Woodley’s time in the UFC passed?
UFC President Dana White openly said afterwards that Woodley may want to consider retiring after another dismal performance inside the Octagon.
“I think he should start thinking of hanging ‘em up,” said UFC President Dana White. “He’s had a great career, he’s had a great run. He’s made money.”
In round four, Covington caused a massive bleeding, as his relentless elbows and solid punches caused cuts across Woodley’s eyes and his atop his head.
At the end of the fight, Woodley appeared to have Covington in a guillotine front-face lock, but relinquished the hold after Covington landed a series of hard body-shots from a defensive position.
“Usman vs. Covington was one of the best fights I’ve ever seen,” White added. “This fight had that type of potential, if that Woodley showed up. He didn’t. Something happened with his ribs, it’s a rib injury.”
As for Covington’s immediate future, to the victor goes the spoils that included a live post-fight phone call from President Donald Trump, White may book Convington to face Jorge Masvidal next.
“Right now, Gilbert Burns has the next shot at Usman,” White said. “Colby is there and the first fight (against Usman) was so incredible. I loved that fight. I don’t know, maybe he gets another fight. Maybe [Covington] fights Masvidal.”
Future UFC Hall of Famer ‘Cowboy’ Donald Cerrone (36-15-1) battled Nicko Price (14-4-1) to a split-draw after three exciting rounds. The judges had the fight scored: 29-28 (Cerrone) and 28-28 (twice), however, Cerrone didn’t feel as though he won.
“That is a loss, that’s five in a row,” Cerrone said. “Had I not gained a point, I would have lost that fight. 2020 is not my year I don’t think.”
In three appearances this year, Cerrone, recognized for his non-stop, all-action performances, lost all three. In January, he was KO’d in 40 seconds by a returning Connor McGregor. In May, he dropped a decision to Anthony Pettis. Winless in his last five fights, it was clear that Cerrone’s body language, at age 37 and after a brutal 42-MMA fight career, was competitive against Price. It was a closely-contested slugfest between two all-action artists inside the Octagon. But it was clear that Cowboy is slowing down physically as an athlete.
“There was one time when I almost dropped to a knee,” Cerrone admitted. “I was like, ‘you fucking pussy, let’s go.’ I was having a conversation [with myself]. Meanwhile, he’s just unloading on me.”
Speaking of conversation, UFC President Dana White feels the urge to ‘have a conversation’ with Cowboy Cerrone.
“He was on his way out in the first 30 seconds of the first-round,” White said. “He’s durable. I love ‘Cowboy,’ but I know this is going to crush him and break his heart, but it’s time to have a conversation with him. I need to talk to him. He and I need to have a conversation. I know what he’s going to say, ‘I don’t want to stop.’”
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