Former Division I All-Americans Colby Covington and Tyron Woodley face off at the weigh-ins before UFC at Fight NightI don't know about you, but for me, there is something very cool and very exciting about watching two fighters from similarly high-level wrestling backgrounds meet in the cage. When two combatants have both been through the same pressure-cooker that is NCAA Division I wrestling, we can glean much from their shared experience. Having such a considerable body of work to look back on allows us to gauge things like athleticism, strength, competitiveness, heart, determination, etc. Perhaps most fun about these types of matchups? MMA is the great equalizer. The wide-open ruleset that allows for so many ways to win or lose is the ultimate wild card.
This weekend's UFC card offered such a matchup. Colby Covington vs. Tyron Woodley is a fantastic piece of matchmaking. And with a nice supporting cast of former wrestlers with considerable resumes, there was much for the wrestling community to enjoy. So what did we learn about each one? Let's take a look…
Colby Covington
What we learned: Say what you want about the brash Oregonian (originally from California), the guy is a problem for most any fighter in the welterweight class. And while we already knew that the former undefeated NJCAA national champ and Division I All-American was abrasive and lacking in sportsmanship, this fight against Woodley showed that he possesses a ton of resolve, and steadfastness as well.
Enduring insult and injury in the form of a cracked jaw and TKO loss, Covington was served up a hefty dose of humble pie in his last fight against Kamaru Usman. Despite fighting well and displaying incredible toughness and a ton of skill, the two-time Pac-12 champ was ultimately overmatched and had to eat his words.
Many in the MMA community expected the MAGA hat-donning welterweight would have a tough time coming back from that loss. The thinking was that he was a bully, likely to crumble in the face of adversity. Well, love him or hate him, Covington showed he can walk the walk, that he can dish it out, and he can take it. Undeterred, he showed up against Woodley ready to scrap.
Covington found success in every facet of the fight, including the wrestling exchanges. He hit a slick knee tap/double leg early, and never relinquished the upper hand for the duration of the fight. Doing what he does best, Covington leaned heavily on his superb conditioning as he launched a nonstop striking assault and applied heavy pressure in the clinch. Covington scored several impressive takedowns from a multitude of positions, and he executed some very smart tactical grappling as he looked to break the former champ's will. He succeeded, breaking Woodley's rib as well.
Covington will spend the next couple years at the top of the welterweight division, and I'd be surprised if he didn't earn another shot at the belt. Great performance by "Chaos" Covington.
Tyron Woodley
What we learned: Another post-title-reign fight and another underwhelming effort from the former UFC 170-pound king. While it's tough to know for sure what exactly is ailing the former two-time NCAA Division I All-American, we can now say with confidence that if Tyron Woodley does not reignite the fire inside him, he will continue to get whooped inside the cage.
Woodley's recent performances are honestly a bit baffling. The man appears to be in phenomenal physical condition, continues to take tough fights, continues to show he is at least capable of executing his high-powered offense, but continues to appear uninspired and/or uninterested in getting after it.
We got to see glimpses of the strength, explosive punching, ridiculous hip strength, and veteran savvy from the former champ, and we know he was at least in part fighting with a cause in mind, but it just wasn't enough. This version of Tyron Woodley was overmatched. He just had no answer for the straight left hands, takedowns, and clinch game of his foe, and in the end, he succumbed to the pressure.
When Woodley is on, he is a sight to behold. He is a human brick wall inside the clinch, is impossible to take down, even if you get in super deep on his hips, he can cover incredible distance in the blink of an eye, and his right hand can test even the most stout jaw. We haven't seen that Woodley in a minute, though. While I for one believe he hasn't lost his physical ability, he is at a crossroads and must think hard on his desired path.
Khamzat Chimaev
What we learned: The Chechen-Swede is a damn wrecking ball of a fighter. He is overwhelmingly effective in every aspect of the fight game and looks to win quickly and emphatically every time out. In combat sports we often see terms like beast, savage, and monster tossed around with varying degrees of utility, but this guy is just … dangerous.
Chimaev hails from the Russian republic of Chechnya, relocating to Sweden at 17 years old. He brought with him a bronze medal from Russian Cadet Freestyle Nationals and continued to wrestle in Sweden. In a country renowned for its Greco-Roman wrestling, Chimaev had little trouble competing in freestyle, as he shut out four opponents 37-0 in running through 2018 Swedish Senior Nationals.
Simply put, Chimaev is a big-move kind of guy. His approach is simple: Come out, take the center, throw a big, high kick or a powerful punch, and if it misses the mark he immediately attacks with a takedown. And speaking of takedowns, he is definitely a wrestler who doesn't wrestle merely to score points, he looks to do damage. Chimaev has drawn comparisons to fellow Caucasus juggernaut Khabib Nurmagomedov, but aside from their affinity for wrestling and their home region, I personally don't see many parallels. In addition to his finishing ability, high amplitude takedowns, and powerful striking, Chimaev has a fluidity and a flow to his game that we are starting to see a lot of from former wrestlers out of Nordic and Scandinavian countries.
On Saturday night, Chimaev needed just one punch to topple tough, seasoned fighter Gerald Meerschaert. And with that, you can be sure he will be fast-tracked up the middleweight ladder.
Damon Jackson
What we learned: After washing out of the UFC several years ago, lifelong wrestler Jackson has sharpened his overall game nicely. An Oklahoma high school state runner-up who went on to become and All-American (fifth place) for Missouri Valley College in the NAIA, Jackson is a study in perseverance and unwavering focus. Both in his career and in this weekend's fight, he leaned heavily on his combat sports experience.
A short notice replacement for this fight, Jackson returned to the UFC after almost five years away, only to start the contest getting whooped by Mirsad Bektic. Despite seemingly having the wrestling advantage, at least on paper, Jackson was taken down at will by Nebraska's Bektic, a man who has spent a good bit of time on the mats with none other than Mr. Jordan Burroughs. Unfazed by his early woes, Jackson hung in there and when an opening presented itself, he seized the opportunity and scored a guillotine choke finish for the win.
Darrick Minner
What we learned: Former All-State Nebraska high school wrestler Darrick Minner is an offensive powerhouse. After plying his trade on the regional MMA scene for the better part of the last decade, the featherweight dynamo has been chomping at the bit to get his hands on some UFC opposition. Perhaps a bit over-eager, this enthusiasm cost him his UFC debut, but now, after dialing it in, he is ready to go. Minner fought the way we like to see wrestlers fight; hardnosed, physical, aggressive, and dynamic. He brought the fight right to his opponent, roughed him up, and slapped on the guillotine choke, making it look easy. Great performance by Minner.
Jordan Espinosa
What we learned: Another former wrestler on the card who just recently got his ticket to the big show after a decade as a pro, Espinosa has plenty of skill and physical ability, he just may need to overhaul his approach and fight IQ. The former New Mexico high school state champ moves quite well inside the cage, but in this last outing, he was content getting picked apart in the striking game rather than changing levels and dumping his foe on his head. Espinosa needs to remember that though he's been fighting for many years now, he is a wrestler first and foremost. And wrestlers can't forget, when you're getting pieced up on the feet, it only takes a single big takedown to even the scales.
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