Kamaru Usman Will Face Colby Covington For First Title Defense

Kamaru Usman’s first title defense will come against Colby Covington. Dana White confirmed the news on Saturday night (per MMA Weekly), noting that the fight will happen once Usman is recovered from hernia surgery.

“The welterweight division has never been more exciting,” White said. “It is so stacked and exciting right now. I don’t think we’ve announced that date yet but that’s the next fight. As soon as Usman is better, he just had double hernia surgery, as soon as he’s better from that, that fight will be made. There’s so many great matchups in that division right now.”

The two fighters were involved in an altercation earlier in the month at a buffet in the Palm Casino after UFC 235. Covington claimed soon after that Usman set the situation up to screw him out of a title fight, but whether that’s true or not, Covington is getting his shot regardless.