Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington Set For UFC 245 Main Event
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| Getty Images Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington have finally agreed terms on a welterweight title showcase. |
A trilogy bout between heavyweight foes Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier was initially explored as a possible curtain-closer, with a retina injury to reigning champion Miocic ruling the Cleveland native out for the remainder of the year.
Current division best and relentless wrestler Usman secured the welterweight crown from Tyron Woodley back at UFC 235 in a complete shutout five round affair, but a mixture of injuries and failed attempts to make the fight with the brash Covington has halted his return to active competition.
The controversial Covington on the other-hand, solidified his status as number one contender to the throne with a one-sided unanimous decision triumph over the dangerous, 'Ruthless' Robbie Lawler. Covington, who claimed the interim championship in a clash with former lightweight best Rafael dos Anjos in June of last year, was stripped of the title due to inactivity and another failed pairing with then champion Woodley.
Both men have been on a collision course for the last calendar year, with a title tilt between the two targeted for UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden on November 2nd. With the failed pairing scrapped for the time being, a welterweight showdown between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz with the BMF championship up for grabs took headlining status.
Speaking with ESPN's Ariel Helwani on 'The Helwani Show' recently, perennial contender Leon 'Rocky' Edwards outlined his plans to rematch Usman, if Covington continued to price himself out of his premier undisputed title challenge. Edwards also claimed the only other bout he would accept would be a title eliminator clash, with a matchup against former division best Tyron Woodley for the final pay-per-view event of 2019 linked.
UFC 245 takes place from the T-Mobile Arena on December 14th. with a bantamweight title tilt rematch between Amanda Nunes and Germaine de Randamie set to place, while a 145-pound championship meeting between Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski is also set to feature. Welterweight veteran Matt 'The Immortal' Brown ends a two-year hiatus from the Octagon in December, as he meets wily grappler Ben Saunders, and Jessica Eye looks to return to winning ways after her shocking championship head kick knockout loss to Valentina Shevchenko, as she meets the talented finisher, Viviane 'Vivi' Araújo. The previously mentioned Robbie Lawler makes a quick turnaround at the event, as he pairs up with surging Argentine threat Santiago 'Gente Boa' Ponzinibbio.
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