The UFC Welterweight Title may be on the line this December at UFC 245 as Kamaru Usman puts the gold on the line against former UFC Interim Welterweight Champion Colby Covington according to Ariel Helwani of ESPN (via Aaron Bronsteter of TSN). The duo were reportedly set to meet at UFC 244 this November, but negotiations fell apart and the bout wasn’t finalized.
Usman (15-1-0) is making the first defense of this championship, which he earned with a unanimous decision win over Tyron Woodley at UFC 235. Usman will come into the bout while riding a fourteen fight winning streak and he hasn’t been defeated in over six years. Usman has picked up fifteen wins as a professional MMA fighter and more than half of them have come by way of decision.
Covington (15-1-0) will come into the bout while riding a seven fight winning streak and his lone professional MMA defeat came nearly four years ago. Covington is a former UFC Interim Welterweight Champion, defeating former UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael Dos Anjos to win the gold at UFC 225. Covington has seen his last five professional MMA bouts go the distance and it has been over three years since the fighter got a finish.
UFC 245 takes place on Saturday, December 14 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with no main event announced at this time. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
