UFC 245: Usman vs. Covington | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Roe Jogan
- May 14
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 14
Introduction
UFC 245: Usman vs. Covington — December 14, 2019, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas. The year-end card that closed the richest twelve months in recent UFC history delivered three title fights and one of the most competitive championship bouts of 2019. Kamaru Usman made his first WW title defence by stopping Colby Covington at 4:10 of round five. Alexander Volkanovski became the new UFC Featherweight Champion by defeating Max Holloway by unanimous decision. And Amanda Nunes made her Women's Bantamweight title defence convincingly against Germaine de Randamie.
Three title fights on one card in Las Vegas in December — a fitting close to a year that included UFC 239, UFC 241, UFC 243, and UFC 244.
Quick Stats
📅 Date: December 14, 2019
📍 Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
👥 Attendance: 16,811
🏆 Main Event: Usman (c) vs. Covington — UFC WW Championship
✅ Results: Usman def. Covington TKO R5 4:10 | Volkanovski def. Holloway UD (NEW champion) | Nunes def. de Randamie UD
The Build-Up
Usman vs. Covington was the WW division's defining rivalry. They had been teammates and then bitter enemies, with Covington's provocative public persona and Usman's increasing dominance creating a tension that extended well beyond standard title fight promotion. Covington had a genuine case as the best WW challenger. The FW title fight between Volkanovski and Holloway was the second chapter of a trilogy; Volkanovski had earned the shot with his win over Jose Aldo at UFC 243.
Main Event — Usman vs. Covington
Kamaru Usman (c) vs. Colby Covington — UFC Welterweight Championship
Twenty-five minutes of the most sustained, physically demanding WW championship action the UFC had produced in years. Covington threw over 400 total strikes across the five rounds, making the fight legitimately difficult for Usman throughout. Rounds one and two were largely Covington's. The tide shifted in rounds three and four as Usman's cardio advantage became apparent. In round five, Usman landed a right hand that broke Covington's jaw and followed with punching combinations that brought the stoppage at 4:10. One of the most dramatically satisfying championship finishes of 2019.
Co-Main Event — Volkanovski vs. Holloway
Max Holloway (c) vs. Alexander Volkanovski — UFC Featherweight Championship
Volkanovski's wrestling-oriented gameplan neutralised Holloway's striking game by mixing takedowns with positional control. The final decision was 50-45, 47-48, 47-48 for Volkanovski — two judges scoring it for Volkanovski, one for Holloway. Many observers had Holloway winning on the feet. The controversy ensured an immediate rematch at UFC 251, which Volkanovski won again, confirming the result.
Full Results
Main Card
Usman def. Covington — TKO (punches) | R5 4:10 | WW Championship (Usman 1st defence)
Volkanovski def. Holloway — Unanimous Decision (50-45, 47-48, 47-48) | R5 | FW Championship (Volkanovski NEW champion)
Nunes def. de Randamie — Unanimous Decision | R5 | Women's BW Championship
Moraes def. Aldo — Split Decision | R3 | BW (Aldo's BW debut)
Yan def. Faber — KO (head kick) | R3 0:43 | BW (Faber farewell fight)
Preliminary Card
Neal def. Perry — TKO (head kick and punches) | R1 1:30 | WW
Aldana def. Vieira — KO (punches) | R1 4:51 | Women's BW (POTN)
Brown def. Saunders — KO (punches and elbows) | R2 4:55 | WW
Bonuses & Awards
🏅 Fight of the Night ($50,000 each): Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, for the sustained 5-round WW championship war.
🏅 Performance of the Night ($50,000 each): Petr Yan (R3 KO of Faber) and Irene Aldana (R1 KO of Vieira).
Records & Milestones
Volkanovski's championship win marked the end of Holloway's FW reign and the beginning of the most dominant era in FW history. Three title fights on one card is one of the rarest formats in UFC event history. Moraes's split decision win over Aldo was a remarkable result for a former FW champion reinventing himself at BW. Petr Yan's finish of Urijah Faber was Faber's farewell to the UFC after a 17-year career. Geoff Neal's R1 destruction of Mike Perry flagged him as a future WW contender.
Legacy & Impact
UFC 245 was the perfect year-end statement for 2019. The WW main event produced one of the best five-round fights of the year. The FW result launched a title era that would define the division for years. Three title fights on one card at T-Mobile Arena confirmed the UFC's ability to deliver blockbuster year-end events. For the full 2019 picture, the series from UFC 234 through 245 covers it all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the Volkanovski vs. Holloway decision at UFC 245 controversial?
Yes. The decision (50-45, 47-48, 47-48 for Volkanovski) was disputed by many observers who had Holloway winning on the feet across multiple rounds. The controversy produced an immediate rematch at UFC 251 in 2020, which Volkanovski also won.
How did Usman beat Covington at UFC 245?
Usman weathered a strong start from Covington and broke through in round five with a right hand that fractured Covington's jaw, followed by combinations that brought the TKO stoppage at 4:10. One of 2019's most dramatic late-round finishes.
How many title fights were on UFC 245?
Three: Usman def. Covington (WW Championship), Volkanovski def. Holloway (FW Championship, new champion), and Nunes def. de Randamie (Women's BW Championship).
Who received the UFC 245 post-fight bonuses?
Fight of the Night: Usman and Covington ($50k each). Performance of the Night: Petr Yan ($50k, R3 KO of Faber) and Irene Aldana ($50k, R1 KO of Vieira).
References
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