The victory didn’t come without consequences, as Usman suffered a hand injury while fighting Covington.
“My right hand is okay. My legs are okay. My left hand is the one that I hurt during the fight, I hurt it early on in the first round,” Usman said to MMA Fighting. “When I rewatched the fight, I heard Joe Rogan say something about it. It was kind of surreal. I didn’t think it was that visible but I heard Joe mention something about it. Yeah, I hurt my hand.”
Covington didn’t leave the bout unscathed either, as the fighter suffered a jaw injury in the loss to Usman.
Usman is recovering from the hand injury and expects to return to action by the middle of the year.
“Right now we’re in the process of making sure those tendons and those ligaments are okay in that hand,” Usman said. “Hopefully, I can get back in there by mid this year. Mid-2020. If earlier, absolutely, because if I don’t fight, I don’t make money. We love to make money.”
While no opponent has been announced for Usman’s next title defense, reports have started surfacing stating that Jorge Masvidal could be the opposition for the champion.
