Khabib Nurmagomedov implores Kamaru Usman to 'SMASH' Colby Covington

Khabib Nurmagomedov implores Kamaru Usman to ‘SMASH’ Colby Covington at UFC 268 as MMA legend sends welterweight champion good luck message ahead of Madison Square Garden blockbuster

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov has told Kamaru Usman to ‘smash’ Colby Covington 
  • Usman, 34, defends his welterweight title against Covington, 33, at UFC 268 
  • Covington is a divisive figure and has riled large portions of the MMA community
  • Nurmagomedov wants Usman to emphatically defeat the loudmouth American 

Khabib Nurmagomedov has told Kamaru Usman to ‘smash’ Colby Covington as the former lightweight king sent a good luck message to the welterweight champion ahead of UFC 268.

Usman, 34, faces Covington, 33, at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, almost two years on from their dramatic five-round clash in Las Vegas that saw Usman win via late stoppage.

The Nigerian Nightmare has remained the undisputed king since their first fight, with fans and pundits expecting Covington to pose Usman his toughest test in the Big Apple this weekend.

Khabib Nurmagomedov has told Kamaru Usman to ‘smash’ Colby Covington at UFC 268

Usman and Nurmagomedov are both managed by Ali Abdelaziz and share a friendship, and the Eagle FaceTimed the 170-pound king to implore him to ‘smash’ loudmouth Covington at UFC 268.

‘Really good to see you, brother. Please brother smash this guy [Colby Covington] and defend the belt,’ Nurmagomedov told Usman on UFC Embedded.

‘My energy with you, brother… Honestly, I really want him to smash this guy like he did the first time. 

The welterweight rivals renew their rivalry as they go head to head again in New York City 

Nurmagomedov and Usman share the same manager and the Eagle FaceTimed the Nigerian

‘Let’s go, Kamaru. Pound-for-pound best in the world. Kamaru Usman, Nigerian Nightmare, African Power. Let’s go, brother. I’m with you.’

Usman has taken his game to another level since fighting Covington at UFC 245, winning two of his last three fights by knockout.

He handed Jorge Masvidal his first knockout defeat in over 10 years with a thunderous right hand last April, with new coach Trevor Wittman refining Usman’s skills on the feet to add to his world crass wrestling and grappling.

Usman says he is more relaxed and will take emotion out of his fight with Usman this weekend

Usman believes that he will be far less emotional when he meets Covington this time around, with the American riling the champion ahead of their first fight in 2019.

‘For me, the wrong that I want to right is in that fight, I fought with emotion. As much emotion I was willing to display is what I fought with, which is why I think I got hit quite a bit, but it was fun. I had fun,’ Usman said.

‘That lets you know that I got a little mad man in me too. I don’t mind getting hit… I want to make it a little bit more flawless this time around.’




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