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Kamaru Usman Opens as -280 Favorite Over Colby Covington In Potential Fight

Cole Shelton

by Cole Shelton in Mixed Martial Arts News

Updated Mar 30, 2020 · 1:14 PM PDT

Kamaru Usman
Is a potential fight is on the horizon for champion Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington? Photo from @Maclifeofficial (Twitter)
  • Covington coming off of a dominating performance
  • Both have expressed interest in fight happening at UFC 244
  • Usman opens as the favorite

Colby Covington was supposed to get a title shot after he beat Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225 to become the interim welterweight champion. Yet, that never happened and he was passed over at UFC 228 and UFC 235. Then, he took more than a year off and returned at UFC on ESPN 5 where he dominated Robbie Lawler.

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In attendance for that fight was the welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, which it appears that fight is next. They do not like each other and the build-up to the fight would be intense, and many expect it to be a close fight, but Usman is a strong -280 favorite.

Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington Odds

Fighter Odds
Kamaru Usman -280
Colby Covington +220

*Odds taken 08/4/19

Will the Odds Change?

Absolutely.  I think they are way too high to begin with. Look, Usman is the champion and should be favored, but he should not be anywhere near the -300 range, or even in the -200 range. This fight is super close as both are solid wrestlers and have good striking. They both have really good pressure and cardio and both like to be the aggressor. Their skills match evenly and it will come down to who is better that night, which is why I disagree with the -280.

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But, I can understand why that is. Many people do not like Colby Covington for his out-of-ring fighting antics, that includes his evident support for Donald Trump, spoiling movies such as Avengers, and much more. Yet, you can not take any of that into account and all you have to look at is his fighting which he has proven he is one of the best. So, I expect these odds to change and them to go to the -140, and +150 range around there.

Who Has the Most Value?

There is no question who has the most value and that is Colby Covington. Frankly, I favor him in this fight anyway, so to get him at +220 odds is huge value as I expect him to drop a ton.

Covington has dominated every opponent he has faced, and what makes it more impressive is he dominated his opponents in their game. Against Lawler, although he attempted over 20 takedowns, he still stood and traded with the perceived better striker in Lawler and outstruck him on the feet. Against ‘RDA’ the same thing happened.

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But, as mentioned, this is a very interesting fight stylistically as they both to do what each other does well. So, it will come down to who can implement their game plan better, and from what I saw in the last fight, I think Covington does that.

Pick: Colby Covington (+220)

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