Kamaru Usman vs Colby Covington UFC Predictions & Tips - 12/14/2019

Kamaru Usman vs Colby Covington

UFC 245

T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Kamaru Usman will battle Colby Covington at UFC 245 in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, December 14, 2019. The opener has Usman coming in at -185 while Covington is priced at +150.

Kamaru "The Nigerian Nightmare" Usman walks into the cage holding a mark of 15-1-0. The 32-year-old is weighing in at 170 lbs and measures in at 6' 0". The switch fighter has an arm span of 76". Colby "Chaos" Covington measures 5' 11" and weighs 170 lbs. The orthodox fighter steps into the Octagon holding a mark of 15-1-0. The 31-year-old reaches 72". When talking about significant strikes, Kamaru Usman lands 4.20 per minute while Colby Covington lands 3.90 significant strikes per minute. Usman lands 54% of the significant strikes he tries and Covington is landing 37%. Concerning their defense in the Octagon, "The Nigerian Nightmare" takes 1.60 significant strikes per minute and "Chaos" absorbs 2.35. Usman also stops 57% of the significant strikes that are thrown his way while Covington prevents 56% of the shots thrown.

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In the wrestling category, Kamaru Usman is not as efficient of a wrestler as he takes his opponents down 3.96 times per 3 rounds. Usman is scoring a takedown on 50% of his attempts and is defending 100% of all takedowns attempted on him. Covington is finishing his takedowns on 51% of his takedown tries and is defending 78% of all takedowns attempted on him. Regarding submission attempts, Usman is the less likely of the two fighters to go for the finish by trying 0.2 finishes per 3 rds while Covington tries 0.4 finishes per 15 minutes.

In his previous bout, Kamaru Usman fought Tyron Woodley and ended up getting the victory by unanimous decision in round 5. Woodley landed 60 of 79 total strikes attempted in that fight. Usman ended the night having landed 336 of 390 total strikes. In terms of significant strikes, Woodley landed 34 of 51, which gave him a rate of 66%. He landed 12 of 28 significant strikes to the head. In terms of stats for the opponent, Usman ended up landing 72% of the significant strikes he threw by landing 141 of 194. In terms of accuracy for the significant strikes, he connected on 56 of 104 pointed at the head. 29% of the significant strikes landed by Woodley and 19% of them landed by Usman were done at a distance.

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In the last bout for Colby Covington, he went up against Robbie Lawler and ended up getting the win by unanimous decision in round 5. Lawler ended up connecting on 84% of the significant strikes he attempted at distance and Covington landed 86% of the significant strikes he tried at a distance. Covington ended up connecting on 34% of the significant strikes he attempted by landing 179 of 515. He ended up landing 128 of 454 significant strikes to the head. Lawler connected on 78 of 167 significant strikes in that battle. Out of those significant strikes, he connected on 61 of 144 to the head. When discussing total strikes that he let go in that contest, Lawler connected on 82 of 171 and Covington ended up landing 201 of 541 total strikes.

Other fights on the card to watch

An additional bout that shouldn't be missed is when Max Holloway will oppose Alexander Volkanovski. Holloway walks into the cage with a record of 21-4-0. The 28-year-old is weighing in at 145 lbs and stands in at 5' 11". The orthodox fighter extends his reach 69". Volkanovski measures in at 5' 6" and weighs 145 lbs. The orthodox fighter has a career mark of 20-1-0. The 31-year-old reaches 71". In terms of takedowns, Max Holloway is averaging a takedown 0.26 times per 3 rds and Alexander Volkanovski is averaging a takedown 2.78 times per 15 min. In the striking category, Holloway is connecting on 6.78 strikes per min and is landing 45% out of all the strikes he attempts. On the other side of the cage you've got Alexander Volkanovski, who tags his opponent on 59% of the strikes that he throws and lands 6.11 per minute.

If you're into fun fights, you're going to want to see when Jose Aldo is set to go up against Marlon Moraes. Moraes comes into this fight with a record of 22-6-1. The 31-year-old weighs in at 135 lbs and measures 5' 6". The orthodox fighter extends his reach 67". Aldo comes in at 5' 7" and weighs in at 145 lbs. The orthodox fighter comes into this fight with a record of 28-5-0. The 33-year-old has a wingspan of 70". Regarding takedowns, Marlon Moraes defends against 66% of the takedowns fighters have tried and is finishing his takedowns on 16% of his attempts. Aldo is finishing his takedown tries on 65% of his tries and is able to stop 92% of the takedowns his opponents try. In the matter of striking, Moraes takes 3.63 strikes/min and he is connecting on 3.41 strikes/minute. Aldo, at the same time, takes 3.14 strikes/minute and is landing 3.45 per min.

Who will win tonight's UFC match against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Kamaru Usman (-185)

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