UFC 268
UFC 268 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on November 6, 2021, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.[1] The card headlined a welterweight championship rematch between defending champion Kamaru Usman and top contender Colby Covington, with the co-main event featuring a women's strawweight title bout between champion Rose Namajunas and former champion Zhang Weili.[1] In the main event, Usman retained his welterweight title via unanimous decision over five rounds against Covington, marking his fifth successful defense and avenging their 2019 encounter.[1] Namajunas also defended her strawweight crown in the co-main, edging out Zhang by split decision in a closely contested rematch from their 2021 fight.[1] The event's lightweight clash between Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler earned Fight of the Night honors, with Gaethje securing a unanimous decision victory after a back-and-forth war.[1] Other notable outcomes included Marlon Vera's third-round knockout of bantamweight legend Frankie Edgar, signaling the veteran's potential retirement, and a flyweight bout where Brandon Moreno submitted Deiveson Figueiredo to win the title in a historic pay-per-view main card opener.[1] UFC 268 drew a sold-out crowd of 20,715 at the iconic venue, generating significant buzz for its high-stakes title fights and the return of New York as a major UFC host city post-pandemic restrictions.[1] The 14-fight card spanned main, preliminary, and early preliminary bouts, showcasing a mix of knockouts, submissions, and decisions across multiple weight classes, with Usman's dominant performance solidifying his status as one of the promotion's pound-for-pound elite.[1]Event Information
Date, Venue, and Attendance
UFC 268 took place on November 6, 2021, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, United States.[1] The event drew an attendance of 20,715 paid spectators, filling the arena to near capacity in its standard configuration for mixed martial arts pay-per-view events, which accommodates approximately 20,000 fans.[2] This marked the fifth UFC pay-per-view event at the iconic venue, following landmark cards such as UFC 205—the promotion's debut in New York after the legalization of MMA in the state—and UFC 217.[3][4]Broadcast and Revenue
UFC 268 was broadcast in the United States with the main card airing exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view starting at 10 p.m. ET on November 6, 2021.[5] The preliminary card was shown on ESPN and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, while early preliminaries streamed on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass beginning at 6 p.m. ET.[1] Internationally, the event reached audiences through ESPN+ in supported regions and various local broadcasters, such as BT Sport in the United Kingdom.[6] The production featured a prominent English-language commentary team, with Jon Anik handling play-by-play duties and former UFC champions Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier providing color analysis from cageside at Madison Square Garden.[7] To enhance promotion and viewer engagement, UFC released a six-part Embedded vlog series in the week leading up to the event, offering behind-the-scenes glimpses into the fighters' training camps and preparations. Financially, UFC 268 achieved approximately 700,000 domestic pay-per-view buys through ESPN+, positioning it as the third-highest-selling PPV event of 2021, driven by the appeal of the double welterweight and strawweight title rematches.[8] The live gate generated $9.8 million from ticket sales, underscoring the event's strong commercial draw at a sold-out Madison Square Garden.[2]Background
Announcement and Promotion
UFC 268 was officially announced on August 28, 2021, through the promotion's social media channels and a press release, confirming the event for November 6 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The announcement highlighted the main event as a welterweight championship rematch between defending champion Kamaru Usman and challenger Colby Covington, with the co-main event featuring a strawweight title rematch between champion Rose Namajunas and Zhang Weili.[9] This double-header of rematches set the tone for the event's buildup, capitalizing on unresolved rivalries from prior encounters to draw fan interest. The promotional campaign centered on the high-stakes nature of these rematches, framing them as pivotal opportunities for the challengers to reclaim momentum in their careers. Key elements included a series of cinematic trailers produced by the UFC, which dramatized the personal and competitive tensions between the headliners, such as Usman's narrow decision victory over Covington in their 2019 bout and Namajunas' knockout of Weili in 2021. Marketing efforts also incorporated press tours in New York City, leveraging the locale's energy to engage local media and fans, alongside tie-ins to Madison Square Garden's legacy as a historic venue for major combat sports events, including previous UFC milestones.[10][11] The full fight card was progressively revealed in the months leading up to the event, starting with the headliners in late August and adding key undercard matchups, such as the lightweight clash between Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler, throughout August and September 2021. Within the UFC's 2021 pay-per-view lineup, the event was positioned as a cornerstone fall offering, following the record-breaking success of UFC 264 in July and aiming to sustain viewer engagement with a premium card at an iconic East Coast location.[12]Title Fight Histories
The main event of UFC 268 featured a welterweight championship rematch between champion Kamaru Usman and challenger Colby Covington, stemming from their highly anticipated first encounter at UFC 245 on December 14, 2019, where Usman retained his title via fifth-round TKO at 4:10 after a grueling war of attrition.[13] Covington, who had earned an interim title in 2018 by defeating Rafael dos Anjos before unifying the belt in a losing effort against Usman, rebounded with a dominant fifth-round knockout victory over former champion Tyron Woodley in September 2020, solidifying his status as the top contender for the rematch.[14] The buildup was marked by intense personal animosity, with Covington frequently labeling Usman as "fake" and mocking his Nigerian heritage in racially charged political trash talk aligned with his pro-Trump persona, escalating tensions beyond the cage.[15] Entering UFC 268, Usman carried a 14-fight winning streak in the UFC—second only to Anderson Silva's record at the time—putting his undisputed welterweight title and pound-for-pound dominance on the line in a bid to extend his reign.[16] The co-main event pitted strawweight champion Rose Namajunas against former champion Zhang Weili in a rematch originating from their clash at UFC 261 on April 24, 2021, where Namajunas reclaimed the title with a shocking first-round knockout via head kick at 1:18, marking her second stint as champion and the first time a woman had regained UFC gold.[17] Following the upset loss, which snapped Weili's 21-fight winning streak, she earned an immediate shot at redemption through her position as the division's top-ranked fighter, bypassing other contenders in a direct path back to the title without an interim bout. Weili's arc emphasized resilience, as she focused on mental and technical adjustments post-defeat to reclaim her status as a dominant force in the division.[18] For Namajunas, the bout represented her second overall title defense—following her successful retention against Joanna Jedrzejczyk in 2018 during her first reign—while putting her undisputed strawweight championship at stake against a familiar adversary seeking to reverse the prior outcome.[19] The rivalry highlighted contrasting styles and narratives, with Weili's quest for vindication adding emotional depth to the high-stakes undisputed title clash.[20]Card Changes and Cancellations
The UFC 268 card underwent several modifications in the lead-up to the event, primarily due to injuries and medical issues affecting the undercard. One notable cancellation occurred in the light heavyweight division, where Aleksa Camur withdrew from his scheduled bout against John Allan citing an undisclosed injury; Allan remained on the card and instead faced Dustin Jacoby.[21] In the women's bantamweight division, former champion Germaine de Randamie was forced to pull out of her matchup with Irene Aldana due to an injury sustained in training, resulting in the bout being scrapped entirely with no replacement found. Further adjustments impacted the featherweight bout between Melsik Baghdasaryan and T.J. Laramie, as Laramie withdrew on October 31, 2021, after being diagnosed with a severe bacterial infection (MRSA). LFA featherweight champion Bruno Souza stepped in on short notice as a UFC debutant to face Baghdasaryan, marking one of the last-minute shifts to the early preliminary card.[22] Additionally, the middleweight clash between Phil Hawes and Chris Curtis was rebooked for UFC 268 after an earlier cancellation, providing continuity for both fighters who had been slated to compete previously. Nassourdine Imavov was added to the preliminary card to face Edmen Shahbazyan in another middleweight bout, bolstering the division's presence on the event. A significant return from hiatus came in the lightweight division, where Al Iaquinta ended a nearly three-year layoff—stemming from contract disputes and personal business pursuits—to face Bobby Green, injecting veteran experience into the prelims after Iaquinta had contemplated retirement.[23] These alterations, mostly resolved by mid-to-late October 2021, enhanced the card's middleweight depth with two featured bouts while maintaining a strong lightweight contingent, though the women's bantamweight absence slightly reduced gender diversity.[2] To mitigate risks for the main event welterweight title rematch, Vicente Luque was designated as the official backup fighter, weighing in at 172.2 pounds on November 5, 2021—exceeding the 170-pound limit and rendering him ineligible to step in if needed.[24] Despite these logistical hurdles, the promotion proceeded without broader disruptions, preserving the event's overall structure.Pre-Fight Events
Weigh-Ins
The official weigh-ins for UFC 268 took place on November 5, 2021, at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.[11][25] The event followed the traditional UFC format, beginning with early morning official weigh-ins for regulatory compliance and followed by a ceremonial weigh-in in the evening that included face-offs, media attendance, and live streaming on ESPN+.[26][16] A total of 28 fighters competed on the card, with the majority successfully making their contracted weight classes.[27] However, two preliminary card bouts were affected by weight misses: Bruno Souza weighed in at 148.4 pounds for his featherweight fight against Melsik Baghdasaryan (145.4 pounds), exceeding the 146-pound limit and resulting in a catchweight bout along with a 20% fine on Souza's purse; similarly, C.J. Vergara came in at 127.4 pounds for his flyweight matchup with Ode' Osbourne (125.2 pounds), over the 126-pound limit, leading to another catchweight and a 20% purse deduction for Vergara.[26][25][27] Both championship bouts were cleared without issue, as welterweight title defenders Kamaru Usman (169 pounds) and challenger Colby Covington (169.4 pounds) hit the scales on target, as did strawweight champion Rose Namajunas (115 pounds) and challenger Zhang Weili (115 pounds).[16][28] The ceremonial portion featured tense staredowns, particularly in the main event between Usman and Covington, as well as the co-main between Namajunas and Weili, heightening anticipation for the rematches.[29][30] Vicente Luque, serving as the backup fighter for the welterweight title bout, weighed in at 172.2 pounds, exceeding the 170-pound limit and rendering him ineligible to step in if needed.[25][27] These results finalized the card following recent adjustments to the lineup.[31]Press Conferences and Hype
The pre-fight media day for UFC 268 took place on November 3, 2021, featuring workouts and question-and-answer sessions with fighters at a New York City hotel.[11] Justin Gaethje shadowboxed during the event, emphasizing his aggressive style, while Michael Chandler signed the official event poster and discussed his long-standing desire to face Gaethje, a matchup he had anticipated since their days in separate promotions like Bellator.[11][32] The official pre-fight press conference occurred on November 4, 2021, at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden, where fighters engaged in verbal sparring to build anticipation.[11] Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington traded personal insults, with Covington mocking Usman's family and age, prompting Usman to shove him during their faceoff, though no further physical altercation ensued.[33][34] In the co-main event buildup, Zhang Weili expressed determination for revenge against Rose Namajunas after her previous knockout loss, stating her intent to reclaim the strawweight title through a more tactical approach.[35] UFC amplified the hype through its Embedded vlog series, releasing six episodes from late October to November 5, 2021, that showcased fighters' training camps, travel, and preparations in New York. Episodes highlighted Usman's team dynamics, Gaethje's competitive golf outing, and Chandler's acclimation to the city, providing fans with behind-the-scenes access to the intense atmospheres of their camps.[36] The events fostered a high-energy vibe among the New York crowd, known for its passionate and vocal support, creating a raucous atmosphere at the press conference without escalating to major brawls beyond verbal intensity.[37] This promotional buildup, driven by the welterweight and strawweight rematches, contributed significantly to the event's success, helping UFC 268 achieve approximately 700,000 pay-per-view buys in the United States alone.[8]Fight Results
Main Card
The main card of UFC 268 featured five high-stakes bouts, headlined by two title rematches, showcasing a mix of striking wars, grappling exchanges, and dramatic finishes at Madison Square Garden.[1] Nassourdine Imavov vs. Edmen ShahbazyanIn the main card opener at middleweight, Imavov and Shahbazyan engaged in a competitive striking battle from the outset. Round 1 saw both fighters trading punches, with Imavov landing a significant right hand that briefly stunned Shahbazyan in the final minute, though Shahbazyan recovered without going down. Imavov outlanded Shahbazyan in significant strikes 32-25 for the round.[38]
Round 2 began with Shahbazyan pressing forward, but Imavov countered with a combination of punches that hurt Shahbazyan against the cage. Imavov capitalized with a takedown into mount position, where he unleashed ground-and-pound elbows and punches, forcing referee Dan Miragliotta to stop the contest at 4:42. The finish highlighted Imavov's improved wrestling and finishing ability in his UFC career. Nassourdine Imavov defeated Edmen Shahbazyan by TKO (elbows and punches) at 4:42 of Round 2.[39] Edson Barboza vs. Shane Burgos
The featherweight bout between Barboza and Burgos emphasized contrasting styles, with Barboza's devastating leg kicks against Burgos' grappling pressure. In Round 1, Barboza connected with multiple low kicks that visibly slowed Burgos, but Burgos responded with uppercuts and a late takedown attempt that was stuffed. Barboza held the edge in striking volume at 45-32 significant strikes.[38]
Round 2 saw Burgos increase his aggression, securing a takedown midway through and controlling from top position for over two minutes, landing short elbows while Barboza worked from the bottom. Barboza scrambled up but absorbed more leg damage, landing 28 significant strikes to Burgos' 22. Round 3 continued the pattern, with Burgos stuffing Barboza's strikes, executing another takedown, and maintaining top control while defending submissions; Barboza's leg kicks accumulated but couldn't deter the grappling. Shane Burgos defeated Edson Barboza by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), with judges crediting his control time (7:12 total) over Barboza's striking damage.[39] Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler
The lightweight clash between Gaethje and Chandler delivered one of the year's most intense striking exchanges, with both fighters absorbing heavy damage across three rounds. Round 1 exploded immediately, as Chandler rocked Gaethje with a right hand and attempted a guillotine, but Gaethje reversed and landed uppercuts that wobbled Chandler late. The round featured 112 significant strikes combined, with multiple near-knockdowns for both.[38]
In Round 2, Gaethje took initiative with leg kicks and a takedown, but Chandler exploded back to his feet and traded wildly, only for Gaethje to floor him briefly with a left hook. Blood poured from Chandler's face as Gaethje outstruck him 58-45. Round 3 remained frenetic, with Chandler landing body shots and a knee, but Gaethje's volume (64-52 significant strikes) and a final uppercut flurry sealed his dominance. Justin Gaethje defeated Michael Chandler by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28), praised for its non-stop action and mutual resilience.[40][39] Rose Namajunas vs. Zhang Weili
The women's strawweight title rematch pitted champion Namajunas against former champion Weili in a tactical five-round war marked by grappling shifts and striking precision. Round 1 featured Namajunas' crisp boxing and leg kicks, outlanding Weili 35-28, though Weili threatened with a late takedown. Round 2 saw Weili reverse momentum, hurting Namajunas with a right hand and securing top control for 3:15, landing ground strikes.[38]
Rounds 3 and 4 were grappling-heavy, with Weili dominating position in Round 3 (top control 4:20) after a knockdown, but Namajunas reversed in Round 4 to land elbows from half-guard. Namajunas' leg kicks accumulated damage, slowing Weili (45 significant strikes to 38). In Round 5, Namajunas executed a key takedown and controlled for 2:45, sealing a ground-and-pound edge. Rose Namajunas defeated Zhang Weili by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47), a verdict criticized for its closeness, with one judge favoring Weili's early dominance while the majority credited Namajunas' volume and late control.[39] Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington
The welterweight title main event rematch saw champion Usman defend against top contender Covington in a grueling five-round affair blending pressure wrestling and power striking. Round 1 was measured, with Usman using jabs and a takedown to control the final minute (significant strikes 28-22). Round 2 turned decisive as Usman dropped Covington with a left hook and followed with uppercuts, nearly finishing him; judges scored it 10-8 for Usman due to the knockdown and dominance.[38]
Covington rallied in Round 3 with forward pressure and body kicks, outlanding Usman 45-38 in strikes, though Usman countered effectively. Round 4 saw Covington stun Usman with flurries, gaining momentum (strikes 52-41), but Usman absorbed and responded. Round 5 began with Covington's aggression, but Usman weathered it and landed a crucial right hand knockdown at 4:20, followed by ground strikes to steal the round. Kamaru Usman defeated Colby Covington by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46), with the majority crediting his early lead and final-round heroics despite Covington's sustained pressure (total control time 4:51 for Usman).[39]