Main event set for UFC Fight Night in Newark.
ESPN's Brett Okamoto reports that former UFC Interim Welterweight Champion Colby Covington and former UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler have verbally agreed to clash at UFC Fight Night in Newark on Aug. 3.
Covington (14-1) has not fought since winning the Interim Welterweight Title at UFC 225 on June 9, 2018, against Rafael dos Anjos. A unification bout between Covington and then Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley was rumored for September 8, 2018, at UFC 228 but never became official as Covington was unable to compete due to nasal surgery. Covington was stripped of the Interim Title on July 24, 2018.
Lawler (28-13, 1 NC) has lost three of his last four after rattling off a five-fight win streak and capturing the Welterweight strap. He's coming off a controversial loss to Ben Askren at UFC 235 on Mar. 2, 2019. Lawler was ruled unconscious via bulldog choke by referee Herb Dean, who stopped the fight and awarded the victory to Askren. However, Lawler immediately popped up, showing he was still conscious. He last won at UFC 214 on July 29, 2017, defeating Donald Cerrone by unanimous decision. Lawler was tapped to face Woodley at June 29, 2019 at UFC on ESPN 3 but the fight fell through due to Woodley suffering a hand injury.
The winner of the bout will be in a prime position to fight current UFC Welterweight kingpin Kamaru Usman, who is scheduled to return to action in November.
