Champions Reign Supreme At MSG For UFC 268

After some of the best prelims I've ever seen, UFC 268 was headlined by a pair of tremendous title fights in the Women's Strawweight and Welterweight division, and the champs reigned supreme in both!

First, "Thug" Rose Namajunas defeated Weili Zhang in the co-main event in an awesome technical striking clinic. Sure, the fight went to the ground a few times, and it was interesting when it did, but every second they were standing, my eyes were especially glued to the octagon. Seeing how lightning fast these athletes are in person is truly jarring. It was razor thin by the time it got to the judges, and they had split cards to show that. Rose got the nod, though, and I thought that was the right call. I'm one of those people who hates seeing a champ loose the strap in a very close decision. You gotta BEAT the champ to be the champ, in my eyes.

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We then saw a spectacular GRUDGE MATCH in our main event between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington….

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Both guys clearly respected each other's power more than they did in the first fight - there was a little less standing and banging in the rematch and a little more grappling. That didn't stop them from getting after it, though, and both had some big moments - none bigger than Usman's near finish at the end of Round 2. Colby was relentless, though, and seemed to get better as the fight went on. You really gotta respect the guy as a fighter even if you hate his gimmick. 

Eventually, though, time ran out and Usman's hand was raised yet again; seemingly putting an end to this rivalry. The bitter rivals even embraced at the conclusion of the night….

Did NOT expect that! Did you?!

It was an unbelievably great night of fights from top-to-bottom and I feel incredibly fortunate to have attended as media - I'll never get tired of nights like this. I doubt Paddy will either!

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Signing off from Madison Square Garden. Talk to yas soon!