The Octagon returns to Madison Square Garden for UFC 268, a fourteen-bout fight card headlined by a rematch between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington.
Usman (19-1 MMA) and Covington (16-2 MMA) originally collided back at UFC 245 in December of 2019, with the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ emerging victorious by of a thrilling fifth round TKO.
Since then, Kamaru Usman has gone to defend his welterweight title on three occasions, stopping Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns in his most recent efforts.
Meanwhile, Colby Covington was last seen in action thirteen months ago, where he earned a fifth round TKO victory over Tyron Woodley.
Tonight’s UFC 268 event is co-headlined by a women’s strawweight title fight rematch between Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang.
Namajunas (10-4 MMA) and Zhang (21-2 MMA) initially clashed back at April’s UFC 261 event, with ‘Thug Rose’ emerging victorious by way of knockout.
The now two-time UFC strawwweight champion, Rose Namajunas, enters the contest on a two-fight winning streak. Prior to dethroning Zhang back in April, the American was coming off a split-decision victory over Jessica Andrade.
As for Weili Zhang, the Chinese standout will be looking to make a statement after having her 21-fight winning streak snapped by ‘Thug Rose’ at UFC 261.
Also featured on tonight’s UFC 268 main card is a key lightweight bout between Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler.
Gaethje (22-3 MMA), the promotions former interim lightweight champion, will be returning to action for the first time in twelve months this evening at MSG. ‘The Highlight’ last competed in October of 2020, where he suffered a submission loss to lightweight great Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Meanwhile, Michael Chandler (22-6 MMA) will also enter UFC 268 in hopes of rebounding from a recent setback. The former Bellator champion most recently competed back in May, where he fell short in his goal of capturing the UFC’s vacant lightweight title, suffering a second round TKO loss to Charles Oliveira.
Get all of tonight’s live results and highlights from MSG below (refresh for updates):
UFC 268 Main Card (PPV, 10pm EST)
Kamaru Usman vs Colby Covington – Usman def. Covington by unanimous decision (48-47 x2, 49-46)
Rose Namajunas vs Zhang Weili – Namajunas def. Weili by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 49-46)
Frankie Edgar vs Marlon Vera – Vera def. Edgar via KO in Round 3
Shane Burgos vs Billy Quarantillo – Burgos def. Quarantillo by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Justin Gaethje vs Michael Chandler – Gaethje def. Chandler by unanimous decision (29-28 x3, 30-27)
UFC 268 Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+, 8pm EST)
Alex Pereira vs Andreas Michailidis – Pereira def. Michailidis via KO at 0:18 of Round 2
Al Iaquinta vs Bobby Green – Green def. Iaquinta via TKO at 2:25 of Round 1
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1457154124013842433
Phil Hawes vs Chris Curtis – Curtis def. Hawes via KO (punches) at 4:27 of Round 1
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1457147913948352517
Edmen Shahbazyan vs Nassourdine Imavov – Imavov def. Shahbazyan via TKO at 4:42 of Round 2
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1457142143487782917
UFC 268 Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+, 6pm EST)
Ian Garry vs Jordan Williams – Garry def. Williams via KO at 4:59 of Round 1
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1457133429204606983
Gian Villante vs Chris Barnett – Barnett def. Villante via TKO at 2:23 of Round 2
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1457129455671984130
Dustin Jacoby vs John Allan – Jacoby def. Allan by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
Melsik Baghdasaryan vs Bruno Souza – Baghdasaryan def. Souza by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
CJ Vergara vs Ode’ Osbourne – Osbourne def. Vergara by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Who are you picking to win tonight’s UFC 268 fights? Share your predictions in the comment section PENN Nation!