Issue 217

May 2025

This is the frame when the noise finally stopped. Kamaru Usman’s right hand landed like a hammer of retribution, cracking against Colby Covington’s jaw and ending the UFC’s most toxic rivalry with 50 seconds left in round five at UFC 245. It was somewhat of a public silencing of one of MMA’s best heels. The Nigerian Nightmare defended his welterweight title in Las Vegas. It dismantled the myth of invincibility surrounding 'Chaos,' in a fight where both men came in with nearly identical records, mirrored styles, and a shared distaste that had reached a boiling point. It’s a bout that stands out. They didn’t wrestle. They barely blinked. They just brawled, standing and trading until Usman decided enough was enough. One broken jaw, two knockdowns, and a ground-and-pound flurry later, referee Marc Goddard stepped in. Covington bolted from the cage like a man with nothing left to say. Usman stood tall, not just as a champion, but as a man who kept his cool, landed cleaner shots, and proved that real power finishes the job. You can look forward to seeing Usman back in action against Joaquin Buckley on 15 June later this month.

Date: December 14, 2019

Location: UFC 245, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV