Khabib urges Kamaru Usman to ‘smash’ rival Colby Covington during FaceTime chat

Retired UFC icon Khabib Nurmagomedov has urged Kamaru Usman to 'smash' heated rival Colby Covington at UFC 268 this Saturday.

The pair's UFC Welterweight title rematch will serve as the main event at Madison Square Garden, with Covington wanting revenge after Usman floored him twice en route to a fifth-round stoppage win two years ago.

However, Khabib has urged his close friend to win with even more conviction this time around.

The two stars share the same manager, Dominance MMA head Ali Abdelaziz, and it was the Egyptian who arranged for Khabib to send a message of goodwill to the 'Nigerian Nightmare' on an episode of UFC Embedded.

"Really good to see you, brother," said the Russian, who was speaking on FaceTime to Usman while the latter was in a car with Abdelaziz.

"Please brother smash this guy and defend the belt.

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

Khabib urges Usman to 'smash' Covington

"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."

Ironically, it's Usman, 34, who succeeded 'The Eagle' at the top of the UFC's pound-for-pound rankings following his decision to retire from the sport last year, but many have dubbed his next bout as the biggest test of his title credentials to date.

Will Kamaru Usman 'smash' Colby Covington? Let us know in the comments section.

Covington's defeat to him in December 2019 represented just the second of his UFC career, and he responded nine months later with a dominant win over Tyron Woodley.

The brash American, renowned for his outspoken ways and controversial comments, has goaded Usman in the build-up by branding his father a 'jailbird'. Muhammed Nasiru Usman was convicted in May 2010 of health care fraud and money laundering, and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

He was released in March this year.

According to Usman however, 'Chaos' will be lucky to make it to the fifth this time around.

"For me, the wrong that I want to right is in that fight (the first), 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," he told reporters this week.

"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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