The UFC was back in New York City on Saturday, and in a big way.
UFC 268 featured two title fights topping the card. The PPV portion of the show was also kicked off by a lightweight banger in Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler. You had Frankie Edgar returning against Marlon Vera.
Plus the retirement bout for New York’s own Gian Villante.
The grudge match between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, fighting for the second time, was the main selling point. But another rematch, between “Thug” Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang, was no less compelling.
Lightweight Al Iaquinta was also back in action, returning after a two-year hiatus to take on Bobby Green.
There were also five debuting fighters on the card, including DWCS alum CJ Vergara, LFA’s Bruno Souza, Irish prospect Ian Garry, and regional vet Chris Curtis. None, however, was as anticipated as the debut of kickboxing champ Alex Pereira, mainly because of his history with current UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. In kickboxing, Pereira had defeated “The Last Stylebender” twice, knocking him out in their second meeting.
UFC 268 gets underway at 6PM ET, going down live from Madison Square Garden in New York City. Tune in come fight time for full results. Recaps of all the action will be linked below as well.
UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2 Results
Main Card
Kamaru Usman (c) def. Colby Covington by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) – for the UFC welterweight championship
Rose Namajunas (c) def. Zhang Weili by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 49-46) – for the UFC women’s strawweight championship
Marlon Vera def. Frankie Edgar by knockout (front kick), Round 3, 3:50
Shane Burgos def. Billy Quarantillo by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Justin Gaethje def. Michael Chandler by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Preliminary card
Alex Pereira def. Andreas Michailidis by TKO (knee), Round 2, 0:18
Bobby Green def. Al Iaquinta by TKO, Round 1, 2:25
Chris Curtis def. Phil Hawes by knockout, Round 1, 4:27
Nassourdine Imavov def. Edmen Shahbazyan by TKO, Round 2, 4:42
Early preliminary card
Ian Garry def. Jordan Williams by KO (punch), Round 1, 4:59
Chris Barnett def. Gian Villante by TKO (spinning wheel kick/punches), Round 2, 2:32
Dustin Jacoby def. John Allan by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Melsik Baghdasaryan def. Bruno Souza by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Ode Osbourne def. CJ Vergara by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
