UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman thinks there's a good chance he'll eventually meet Colby Covington in a rematch.
Usman defended his title for the first time against Covington, stopping him in the fifth round of the UFC 245 main event last month.
"To be honest with you, if I didn't take too much out of him - because each fight takes something from you internally ... I think I might see him again," Usman said on "The JRE MMA Show" on Tuesday. "It's clear that we are the two best guys in the division. So, yeah, I look forward to seeing him again."
Usman and Covington exchanged verbal barbs ahead of their highly anticipated bout, and there was no love lost after the event.
While they may not see eye to eye, Usman recognizes that Covington is a talented fighter.
"I give respect when respect is due," Usman said. "I’m no hater. I know this kid could fight. I know he was good. I knew he was tough and I knew he was a competitor, as well. He’s always been a competitor."
Usman-Covington was one of the best fights of 2019. Both fighters are known for their wrestling, but neither attempted a takedown and instead went toe to toe on their feet.
Many pundits had the rivals tied heading into the fifth round, but "The Nigerian Nightmare" secured the victory with a late TKO.
"At the end of the day, to make fantastic fights, you gotta have the right dance partner," Usman said. "And he was the right dance partner."
