Former UFC Interim Welterweight Champion Colby Covington has made his pick for the fight, which is a knockout win for the champ.
?I see Woodley starching Usman,? Covington told TSN Radio (via MMA Fighting). ?I think Usman?s inexperience, he hasn?t really fought a good wrestler that can strike too. He doesn?t really have a good strategy. He tries to go forward and pressure a fighter but he doesn?t really have gas like that. He thinks he does but he really doesn?t, so I think he?s gonna get knocked out. He?s been dropped in fights. He got dropped by my teammate Hayder Hassan, he almost got knocked out by that one kid that was a jobber Emil . . . whatever [Emil Meek]. So he?s gonna walk into something. He?s walked into things and been dropped multiple times. He?s already starting to show signs of CTE so I think Tyron Woodley?s gonna knock him out.?
If the prediction by Covington holds true, it would mark the first loss for Usman in nearly six years.
Dana White stated that Covington may have to win one more fight before challenging for the welterweight gold, which is a scenario that Covington believes will cost the UFC a lot of money.
?If that?s what the UFC wants, if they want guys who are gonna play patty-cake like Tyron Woodley in their championship fights, that?s what they?re gonna get,? Covington said. ?Tyron Woodley fought Demian Maia and threw the least amount of strikes in a title fight. Every time I fight I?m trying to go out there and put 500 strikes on a guy?s face. I?m walking forward, I?m putting on an entertaining show, I always go forward and track guys down, that?s what I do. I bring the show, I bring the entertainment. The UFC is missing out on making a lot of money right now and building up a superstar.?
UFC 235 takes place on Saturday, March 2 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Jon Jones and Anthony Smith headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.