Colby Covington outworks Robbie Lawler to win unanimous decision and set up title showdown with Kamaru Usman

Love him or hate him, Colby Covington’s skills and conditioning continues to impress.

Covington didn’t allow Robbie Lawler to muster and semblance of his famed striking arsenal as the former powered his way to a dominant victory.

It continues the trend of Covington looking better in each fight.

Covington put on a merciless pace which left Lawler powerless to resist. “Chaos” rightly sought the takedown to nullify and tire Lawler from the outset, but he had plenty of success on the feet, too.

Lawler never looked visibly tired and is famous for his ability to go the full five rounds, but Covington overwhelmed him in the clinch and with an impressive boxing output.

While it’s unclear how much pep was in his shots, Covington’s boxing never looked more impressive. His jab did wonders in keeping Lawler at bay, while he had plenty of power shots – uppercuts, overhands and hooks – to keep his opponent hesitant.

Covington comfortably mixed in all these elements and seemingly had an answer for Lawler at every turn. He was rightly awarded a unanimous decision by the judges sat cageside, with scores of 50-44, 50-45 (x2).

Really impressive stuff from Covington in spite of his persona outside of the cage which rubs plenty of people up the wrong way. He’s currently on a seven-fight win streak.

Now that he’s easily dispatched a former UFC and Elite XC welterweight champion in Lawler, former UFC interim champion Covington is surely next in line to face rival Jamaru Usman, who won UFC welterweight gold from Tyron Woodley in impressive fashion back in March at UFC 235.

Jim Miller quickly dispatches Clay Guida with guillotine choke in a wild one-minute fight

UFC veterans Jim Miller and Clay Guida squared off in the night’s co-main event. However, it was New Jersey native Miller who emerged victorious in his home state.

In a fight which lasted just 58 seconds, there was plenty of action.

Guida, in his typical wild, bouncing style, stung Miller early with a right cross which looked like it was the beginning of the end for Miller.

While Miller did stumble back, he somehow remained on his feet and quickly fired back with crushing left hook on the counter after slipping an incoming punch.

Before Guida regained his wits about him, Miller had his opponent’s neck clamped in a guillotine choke.

Not many men are able to withstand the crushing force Miller possesses in his famed submission game and Guida is no different.

Guida was choked unconscious before he could even think of tapping.

In what was his first ever win inside one minute, this victory sees Miller join Donald Cerrone, Michael Bisping, Georges St. Pierre and Demian Maia’s exclusive club of earning 20 wins in the UFC.

2019 is a good year for Miller so far, having racked up a second win on the bounce after defeating Jason Gonzalez back in April.

UFC on ESPN 5: Colby Covington vs.Robbie Lawler full results:

Welterweight: Colby Covington def. Robbie Lawler by unanimous decision after five rounds

Lightweight: Jim Miller def. Clay Guida by submission (guillotine choke) at 0:58 of round one

Lightweight: Nasrat Haqparast def. Joaquim Silva by KO (punches) at 0:36 of round two

Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert def. Trevin Giles by submission (guillotine choke) at 1:49 of round three

Catchweight: Scott Holtzman def. Dong Hyun Ma by TKO (doctor stoppage) at 5:00 of round two

Light Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Darko Stosic by unanimous decision after three rounds

Welterweight: Mickey Gall def. Salim Touahri by unanimous decision after three rounds

Women’s Flyweight: Antonina Shevchenko def. Lucie Pudilova by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:20 of round two

Flyweight: Matt Schnell def. Jordan Espinosa by submission (triangle choke) at 1:23 of round one

Women’s Flyweight: Lauren Murphy def. Mara Romero Borella by TKO (knee and elbows) at 1:46 of round three

Catchweight: Claudio Silva def. Cole Williams by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:35 of round one

Women’s Flyweight: Miranda Granger def. Hannah Goldy by unanimous decision after three rounds