Covington dominates Lawler to solidify title shot

Colby Covington might be the biggest “heel” in professional mixed martial arts, but he’s also the UFC’s undisputed No. 1 welterweight contender.

Covington (15-1) solidified the next shot at defending welterweight champion Kamaru Usman on Saturday, with a dominant, five-round performance against former champ Robbie Lawler. The 170-pound bout headlined UFC Fight Night at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

The polarizing welterweight never came close to a finish, but his furious work rate buried Lawler over the course of five rounds. All three judges scored it a shutout for Covington, via scores of 50-44, 50-45 and 50-45.

Covington received support from Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, who were seated in the front row. After the bout, he challenged the booing New Jersey crowd — and referenced a former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes’ near-death experience in an automobile accident in 2017. Hughes is Lawler’s former training partner and mentor.

“Let’s talk about a lesson we learned tonight, it’s a lesson Robbie Lawler should have learned from Matt Hughes,” Covington said. “Get off the tracks when the train is coming.”

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