Usman Says Covington's Quick Loss Is Not Excusable

Colby Covington lost in 43 seconds. His old rival Kamaru Usman has now given his view, and it is blunt.

Covington's year so far

Covington left the UFC earlier this year. Before that came a long hiatus after a loss to Joaquin Buckley in December 2024. He has competed several times in Real American Freestyle wrestling, and Khamzat Chimaev is waiting for him later this month.

Usman fought him twice in the UFC. The two keep things friendly after those fights, but Usman rarely passes up a jab at Covington.

Rosas ends it at Hype FC Italy

Covington met UFC bantamweight Raul Rosas Jr. in the main event of Hype FC Italy, a 10-minute submission grappling match. Rosas finished it with a rear-naked choke at the 43-second mark.

The match came together on short notice, and Rosas gave up considerable size to take it. Covington put up little fight as Rosas pushed forward and finished it.

Rosas won his last fight, a UFC main event against Raoni Barcelos, and is moving toward a title shot.

Usman's verdict

The result drew jabs from Covington's critics, Belal Muhammad among them. Usman spoke only hours after the match, on the Pound 4 Pound podcast. "That's not excusable because of your name and the brand that you've built," he said. He repeated that it was not excusable.

He also credited Rosas. Fighters like them know how different wrestling and jiu-jitsu are, Usman said, and Rosas caught him off guard.

The other point was intensity. Usman said he could see Covington's face and that he was not ready for that level of intensity right away. Usman added that this matters for a man who is supposed to be the intense one.

Source: BJPenn.com