MMA fans convinced Usman cheated against Covington as video of champ ‘faking’ injuries emerges ahead of UFC 268 rematch

SEVERAL mixed martial arts fans are convinced Kamaru Usman feigned injury during his first showdown with Colby Covington.

Usman retained his welterweight title with a fifth-round TKO victory over his bitter rival in the main event of UFC 245 in December 2019.

But the major talking points from the 170lb classic were the Nigerian Nightmare’s reactions to an apparent groin strike and an accidental eye poke.

In the second round of the T-Mobile Arena tussle, Usman grabbed his groin after a clean body kick from the challenger landed flush on his midriff.

And in the third stanza, the 34-year-old grabbed his right eye in agony after Covington’s fingertips appeared to graze his left.

Referee Marc Goddard intervened on both occasions, much to the frustration of Covington.

And days before the pair’s eagerly-anticipated rematch at UFC 268 at Madison Square Garden, some MMA fans have hit out at the defending champion’s actions in their first clash.

One fan tweeted: “Usman was getting beaten on points prior to Colby jaw break.”

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“Usman cheated when Colby gave a left kick to liver – Usman said was a low blow to get time to recover.”

Another said: “Usman faked and cheated his way thru the fight being dominated.”

And another said: “Kamaru cheated, Colby literally TKO’d him and then Usman pretended it was a nutshot.”

One remarked: “Faking a nut shot and eye poke are cheap tactics, cheap tactics are cheating. Usman cheated.”

Hours after being stopped by Usman, Covington took to Twitter to vent his fury at ref Marc Goddard.

Chaos tweeted: “Normally people do their f***ing in the bedroom, not the octagon @marcgoddard_uk!

“I go in there to kill or be killed.

“You robbed me of that. You robbed the people of a fair fight.

UFCKamaru Usman and Colby Covington will renew their rivalry this weekend at UFC 268[/caption]

GETTYThe pair took part in a welterweight battle for the ages in December 2019[/caption]

GETTYBut some MMA fans – including Covington – have accused Usman of faking an eye poke in the bout[/caption]

GETTYThe Nigerian Nightmare has also been accused of faking a groin strike[/caption]

“You should be ashamed of yourself. Fake nut shot. Fake eye poke. Fake stoppage. Fake ref.”

Covington has since doubled down on his belief Usman feigned injury, saying: “I kicked him in the liver and they called it a nut shot.

“I had him on the wobbly street with the high kick and he’s faking the eye poke on the right eye when it barely grazed his left eye so we know he’s a terrible actor.”

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