Fight Week Blog | UFC 268: Usman vs Covington 2

"I’m very pro-police, pro-military, and who isn’t pro-kids and getting kids off the street," said UFC president Dana White. "Plus, I came out of a PAL program, too, and it changed my life. What you get out of something like this is immeasurable. Lessons learned here, how hard you push yourself in a place like this, the types of people you meet, the different paths that people take, you name it."

"I actually wish we had something like this when I was younger," said UFC middleweight Uriah Hall. "Every day is a fight, and it’s important to have something like this where kids have positive reinforcement, and to teach them the fundamentals to never give up and work hard to prepare for their future."

Colby Covington arrives in a peak "Chaos" custom suit:

"The Count" Michael Bisping taking in the press conference in the very room where he promoted his bout vs Georges St-Pierre at UFC 217:

Justin Gaethje and Kamaru Usman arriving in style:

You that know you've arrived when you arrived when you have your own custom barber's cape.

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The cape, donned by Kamaru Usman ahead of a live ESPN appearance on Max Kellerman's show earlier this week, is but one item the many items bearing his iconic "Nigerian Nightmare" moniker. He has sported the necklace all week, and the letterman's jacket during the UFC 268 media day appearances (select items available on his website www.usman84kg.com).

"You can't get punched in the face forever," he explained of his merchandise venture.

You can see Usman's entire appearance on This Just In with Max Kellerman below. It was a quality TV five minutes that not only summed up his history with Covington to date, but also started the firestorm of chatter about his dream of boxing Canelo Alvarez.

"When have you ever seen the two pound-for-pound fighters in the world, in their respective sports, both in their respective prime, go at it? Name a time."

The disbelief that follows from Kellerman was priceless before he forced Usman to comment a potential super-fight vs his friend Israel Adesanya.

"You guys just saw me on Dana White's Contender Series, Week 2 this season. Here we are two months later from the shadows to The Garden. New York City! UFC 268! I'm the opening act, be sure to tune in. It's going to be the most electrifying opening fight you've ever seen."

Early prelims for Saturday kick off at 6pm/3pm ETPT on ESPN+ and UFC FIGHT PASS

While some fighters are signing posters, others are across the hall getting their pre-fight portraits taken and doing a little shadowboxing. The video clips are often used for the features you see inside the arena on fight night.

Just as often, it's a chance for some downright cool photos, as evidenced by these snaps of teammates Just Gaethje and strawweight champ Rose Namajunas.

Poster signing is my personal visual indicator that fight week is actually underway. It moves from the theoretical "That should be a fun event" to "oh, this is really happening." It sets in motion the wheels of the remaining festivities, including media day, the pre-fight conference, the weigh-ins and more.

Traditionally when fighters arrive to the host hotel and check in with UFC staff, the first order of business is to scratch their John Hancock across a limited number of official event posters. Every fighter on the card signs the posters (which make invaluable souvenirs for a lucky few collecters), but it's an extra special moment when your own face is on the poster staring back at you, such as it was for main card opponents Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje.

Tuesday, November 2

Fight week kicked off in the most New York City way possible: at a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden Monday night.

I spoke yesterday about how far the UFC has come in a relatively short period of time--particularly in New York State--and last night perfectly exemplified that journey. Seated on the floor court-side, chatting up the likes of comedians Tracy Morgan and Chris Rock, was your welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.

The crowd roared as he held up his honorary Knicks jersey in a preview of the noise he can expect to hear this Saturday night. From a sport that was illegal in this very zip code just six years ago to being recognized by one of the cornerstone franchises of the NBA in their house has truly been a ride unlike any other.

Order UFC 268: Usman vs Covington 2

Even on a cool winter Monday evening, The Garden was still packed to the rafters. When you sit down to enjoy any sporting event at "The Mecca," the event begins with a short film about the history that has been made under that roof, highlighting the greats like Muhammad Ali and Patrick Ewing. The moment was not lost on the champ, watched the entire game and let the notion that his own moment in that history begins Saturday sink in.

I promise this week's blog isn't going to be all about the UFC's history in this state, or the history of old sporting arenas, but if you watch UFC 268 with those stories in mind, it adds a color of triumph to a company that has continually found ways to buck the system and overcome the odds. 

Our talented videographer Cory Kamerschak put together a nice reel of the already-numerous MSG highlights that UFC fighters have to their credit. You can check it out here below.