I've been waiting for November 6 for about three months now. I've told my friends and family not to make plans because I won't be available. Nothing is going to stop me from being in front of the TV to catch what is the biggest UFC card of the year, which includes the biggest fight of 2021.
Now that the day is finally here, it's time to break down just why this event is so big and what you should be looking out for.
UFC 268, The Biggest UFC Card of the Year:
If you're a UFC fan, you've likely been waiting a long time for this, like me. On a stacked card, UFC 268 is headlined by a rematch between rivals Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman for the welterweight championship. While casual MMA fans are likely thrilled that Conor McGregor fought twice this year, hardcore MMA fans know that this is the biggest fight of the year.
Usman and Covington first fought at UFC 245 in December 2019 in Usman's first title defense. In one of the best UFC title fights, the two wrestlers didn't attempt a single takedown the entire fight. They threw bombs at each other from the first ring of the bell. If you've never seen the fight it is must see action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI1Xx4asQzY
In the third round, Usman landed a shot on Covington that would send him back to his corner and tell them "I think I broke my jaw." The fight would end with Usman dropping Covington twice in the fifth round and then ground and pound his way to an Usman TKO victory late in the fifth round.
The scary thing about Usman is that he has only looked better in his fights since then. After moving camps and working with new coaches, his striking has only improved, which is almost unfathomable to say about the man who is the pound-for-pound best fighter in the UFC right now.
Things got interesting at the press conference when Usman shoved Covington during their faceoff. All I can say is DO NOT MISS THIS FIGHT!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63cZ1Tx8af0
Co-Main Event Title Fight Rematch:
UFC 268 also features another championship rematch in Rose Namajunas vs. Zhang Weili for the strawweight championship in the co-main event. This fight comes as an immediate rematch after Namajunas landed a vicious head kick KO on Weili back in April at UFC 261 to regain the belt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vt64IYvPq8
We'll see if this time the fight goes a little longer or if we get another first round knockout this time.
Opening with a BANG:
The opening fight on the PPV card Saturday night is one that you won't want to miss. Michael Chandler vs. Justin Gaethje is a fight made in match making heaven. Gaethje is one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC, so much so that his nickname is "the highlight." He has a walk-you-down style which he follows up with vicious punches and kicks.
Chandler can back this up too. In what will be his third fight in the UFC, Chandler is looking to get another shot at the lightweight title after this fight. Gaethje is currently the #2 ranked lightweight and Chandler is currently #5, so it's likely that the winner of this fight will get a chance at the lightweight title after Dustin Poirier fights Charles Oliveira for the title in December.
This fight was originally supposed to be the third fight on the PPV card, but was moved to the opener so that Gaethje's coach Trevor Wittman has more time to go prepare his other fighters Namajunas and Usman.
Despite the fact that both Chandler and Gaethje have wrestling backgrounds, don't be surprised if this fight doesn't end up on the ground at all and turns out to be just a slug fest, similar to Usman-Covington 1.
UFC 268 goes down Saturday from Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY live on ESPN+ PPV for $69.99.
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