When Jorge Masvidal set the UFC record with his five-second knockout of Ben Askren on July 6, the momentum was in his corner to be the next challenger for Kamaru Usman’s welterweight title.
That was in spite of the fact that Colby Covington had won an interim title in the division and never got his title shot. And that Covington, his teammate, was riding a six-fight win streak and came into Saturday’s main event in Newark, N.J., with a 14-1 record.
Covington was matched with Robbie Lawler, a former champion in the division, known for both his punching power and takedown defense.