5 trilogy fights that the UFC should avoid booking
Everyone knows that the UFC loves nothing more than booking rematches between their biggest stars. With that in mind, whenever there’s a chance for them to book a trilogy, they’ll usually take it.
"There's always a trilogy when you're 1-1"
@DanaWhite opens the door to a third fight between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz. https://t.co/lVwslQ2lc5
While there are a number of potential UFC trilogies that would be well worth pursuing, there are also a handful that the promotion would be best to avoid, at least for the foreseeable future.
Sometimes that’s because the first two bouts simply weren’t that good. Other times, it could be because the fighters have more intriguing opponents out there instead. Either way, the promotion would be best not to put them together.
With that in mind, here are five trilogy fights that the UFC should avoid booking.
#5. Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington – UFC welterweight title
It’s safe to say that the rivalry between current UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and former interim champion Colby Covington has defined the 170-pound division over the past few years.
The two men have hated each other for a long time, largely because of Covington’s willingness to plumb the depths in order to get under Usman’s skin. While nobody really wanted to hear quasi-racist insults from ‘Chaos’, it’s hard to deny that they drummed up interest in their feud.
To be fair, Usman’s two bouts with Covington were excellent fights that saw the two welterweights do battle largely on the feet, with both men landing plenty of heavy shots. While ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ came out on top both times, it’s safe to say nobody had pushed him quite like ‘Chaos’.
A moment between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington after their fight. #UFC268 https://t.co/VzZz8MiXjM
Despite this, it still wouldn’t make any sense for the promotion to book a third bout between the two rivals, at least for the foreseeable future.
Firstly, after losing their first two fights, Covington ought to have to win at least three or four bouts before facing Usman again. Even if he is the second-best welterweight on the planet right now, we already know that ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ is better than him.
Secondly, it’d be tiresome to have to hear ‘Chaos’ talk his trash on Usman again after failing to defeat him twice before. Realistically, that trash talk probably wouldn’t draw the same interest it once did.
Therefore, with fresh contenders like Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev waiting in the wings, this is a trilogy bout that the promotion would be best to avoid.