In what was supposed to be the most competitive fight on the entire card it became the most lopsided.
Kamaru Usman (15-1) dominated Tyron Woodley (19-4-1) and in the process snagged the UFC Welterweight title. It was just a stunning turn of events. Woodley was a constant fixture on pound for pound lists. So it wasn’t just that he lost, those things happen. It was the fashion in how he was defeated that was so surprising.
Usman took the fight wherever he wanted as he dictated the pace all night. It is very clear who is the number one Welterweight at the moment. The question now becomes, who’s next? The newly minted champ will have no shortage of contenders for his belt. Let’s take a look at who he should defend his title against first.
An Immediate rematch
It seems crazy to put Woodley on this list doesn’t it? With a performance like that there is absolutely no way he deserves an immediate rematch. Going into the contest Woodley had the highest takedown defense, Usman took him down at will. Woodley was known for being more than capable on the feet with a ton of knockout power, Usman connected with clean punches all night long. I can go on and on but the bottom line is that you won’t be able to find one area in which Usman did not dominate this fight. So why should Woodley get an instant rematch?
That was not Tyron Woodley that night. Sure it was his name but that was not the Woodley we have all grown accustomed to seeing for so many years. Give him a opportunity to right this wrong. There is a chance that Usman is just the better fighter but there is no way he is that much better. Give Woodley one more shot to redeem himself.
Colby Covington
Colby Covington talks a lot. He also backs it up. A showdown with Woodley seemed to be in play for quite some time. Now that Usman has dethroned the former champion, Covington now his eyes set on a new foe. Covington vs Usman would be a great matchup stylistically. Both men like to grind out their wins with a heavy emphasis on wrestling.
For as dominant as Usman has looked in his career, Covington has looked just as good. Let’s not forget that these two men absolutely hate each other and that much was obvious when they met over the weekend in a casino lobby. That added chemical will add a much needed spice to the fight. These are presumably the two best Welterweights in the world. It’s time we figured out who holds the number one spot.
