UFC 268

A UFC Welterweight Championship rematch between the current champion Kamaru Usman (also The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians welterweight winner) and former interim champion Colby Covington headlined the event.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmamania.com/2021/7/26/22594956/kamaru-usman-vs-colby-covington-2-ufc-268-november-mma-news|title=Usman vs. Covington 2 set for UFC 268|publisher=mmamania.com|author=Shakiel Mahjouri|date=2021-07-26|access-date=2021-07-27}} Serving as the event headliner, they previously met at UFC 245 in December 2019, where Usman defended his title via fifth-round technical knockout.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mma/news/ufc-245-results-highlights-kamaru-usman-outlasts-colby-covington-in-hellacious-war-for-late-tko-victory/|title=UFC 245 results, highlights: Kamaru Usman outlasts Colby Covington in hellacious war for late TKO victory|publisher=cbssports.com|author=Brian Campbell and Brent Brookhouse|date=2019-12-15|access-date=2021-08-29}} Vicente Luque served as backup and potential replacement for this fight.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/11/3/22762497/vicente-luque-backup-fighter-ufc-268-kamaru-usman-colby-covington|title=Vicente Luque to serve as backup fighter for UFC 268 headliner Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Guilherme Cruz|date=2021-11-03|access-date=2021-11-03}} At the weigh-ins, Luque weighed in at 172.2 pounds, 2.2 pounds over the welterweight title fight limit making him ineligible to compete for the title.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/11/5/22765231/ufc-268-weigh-in-results-two-title-fights-set-main-event-backup-vicente-luque-two-others-miss-weight|title=UFC 268 weigh-in results: Two title fights set; Main event backup Vicente Luque, two others miss weight|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Alexander K. Lee|date=2021-11-05|access-date=2021-11-05}}

A UFC Women's Strawweight Championship rematch between current two-time champion Rose Namajunas and former champion Zhang Weili took place as the co-main event.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/08/ufc-268-rose-namajunas-vs-zhang-weili-2-covington-usman-new-york-city|title=Rose Namajunas vs. Zhang Weili 2 among latest additions to official UFC 268 card|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King|date=2021-08-28|access-date=2021-08-29}} They previously met at UFC 261, where Namajunas won the title via first-round knockout.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/31328088/rose-namajunas-wins-ufc-strawweight-title-shocking-knockout-zhang-weili|title=Rose Namajunas wins UFC's strawweight title with shocking knockout of Zhang Weili|work=espn.com|author=Brett Okamoto|date=2021-04-25|access-date=2021-08-29}}

A women’s bantamweight bout between former UFC Women's Featherweight Champion Germaine de Randamie and Irene Aldana was expected to take place at the event.{{Cite web|url= https://cagesidepress.com/2021/08/28/germaine-de-randamie-vs-irene-aldana-added-ufc-268-nyc|title= Germaine de Randamie vs. Irene Aldana Added to UFC 268 in NYC|publisher=cagesidepress.com|author=Jay Anderson|date=2021-08-28|access-date=2021-09-08}} However, de Randamie withdrew in early September due to injury.{{Cite web|url= https://www.essentiallysports.com/ufc-mma-news-breaking-germaine-de-randamie-out-of-her-ufc-268-fight-against-irene-aldana/amp/|title=BREAKING: Germaine de Randamie Out of Her UFC 268 Fight Against Irene Aldana |publisher=essentiallysports.com|author=Darryl Pinto|date=2021-09-08|access-date=2021-09-08}}

A middleweight bout between former Strikeforce and UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold and Sean Strickland was expected to take place at the event.{{Cite web|url=https://empiresportsmedia.com/mma/ufc-books-luke-rockhold-sean-strickland/|title=UFC books Luke Rockhold – Sean Strickland|publisher=empiresportsmedia.com|author=Daniel Cunningham|date=2021-08-04|access-date=2021-08-04}} However on October 11, Rockhold withdrew due to a herniated disc.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/10/ufc-268-news-luke-rockhold-back-injury-out-sean-strickland|title=Luke Rockhold injured, out of UFC 268 fight with Sean Strickland|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Mike Bohn|date=2021-10-11|access-date=2021-10-11}}

Phil Hawes and Chris Curtis were expected to meet in a middleweight bout at UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Rodriguez a month earlier, but due to Curtis being tapped as a replacement just a day before that event, Hawes declined the matchup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/10/8/22716518/phil-hawes-vs-chris-curtis-short-notice-bout-off-of-ufc-vegas-39|title=Phil Hawes vs. Chris Curtis short-notice bout off of UFC Vegas 39|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Alexander K. Lee|date=2021-10-08|access-date=2021-10-08}} They met at this event.{{Cite web|url=https://mmadna.nl/breaking-alsnog-partij-tussen-phil-hawes-en-chris-curtis-nu-tijdens-ufc-268-in-new-york/|title=BREAKING: Yet another match between Phil Hawes and Chris Curtis, now at UFC 268 in New York|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Marcel Dorff|date=2021-10-13|access-date=2021-10-14}} {{in lang|nl}}

A featherweight contest between Melsik Baghdasaryan and T.J. Laramie was scheduled for the event.{{Cite web|url=https://cagesidepress.com/2021/08/31/melsik-baghdasaryan-vs-tj-laramie-added-to-ufc-268/|title=Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. TJ Laramie added to UFC 268|publisher=cagesidepress.com|author= Alex Behunin|date=2021-08-31|access-date=2021-08-31}} However, Laramie was forced to pull out after he was diagnosed with an MRSA infection.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-23|title=T.J. Laramie announces UFC 268 withdrawal after MRSA diagnosis, shares graphic images|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/10/ufc-268-tj-laramie-mrsa-withdrawal-melsik-baghdasaryan|access-date=2021-10-23|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King}} He was replaced by promotional newcomer Bruno Souza.{{Cite web|url=https://mmadna.nl/breaking-lfa-kampioen-bruno-souza-treft-melsik-baghdasaryan-op-6-november-in-new-york/|title=BREAKING: LFA Champion Bruno Souza meets Melsik Baghdasaryan on November 6 in New York|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Marcel Dorff|date=2021-10-30|access-date=2021-10-30}} {{in lang|nl}} At the weigh-ins, Souza weighed in at 148.4 pounds, 2.4 pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight and he forfeited 20% of his purse to Baghdasaryan.

A light heavyweight fight between Aleksa Camur and John Allan was scheduled for the event.{{Cite web|url=https://www.superlutas.com.br/noticias/157236/de-olho-na-primeira-vitoria-pelo-ultimate-john-allan-enfrenta-aleksa-camur-no-ufc-268/|title=With his sights on his first win at UFC, John Allan faces Aleksa Camur at UFC 268|publisher=superlutas.com.br|author=VH Gonzaga|date=2021-08-30|access-date=2021-11-01}} {{in lang|pt}} However, Camur pulled out of the bout citing an undisclosed injury and was replaced by Dustin Jacoby.{{Cite web|url=https://mmadna.nl/breaking-dustin-jacoby-vervangt-aleksa-camur-tegen-john-allan-zaterdag-in-new-york/|title=Dustin Jacoby replaces Aleksa Camur against John Allan in New York on Saturday|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Marcel Dorff|date=2021-11-01|access-date=2021-11-01}} {{in lang|nl}}

At the weigh-ins, C.J. Vergara weighed in at 127.4 pounds, 1.4 pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit. His bout proceeded at a catchweight and he forfeited 20% of his purse to his opponent Ode' Osbourne.

{{MMAevent}}

{{MMAevent card|Main card}}

{{MMAevent bout|Welterweight|Kamaru Usman (c)|def.|Colby Covington|Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 49–46)|5|5:00|For the UFC Welterweight Championship.

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Women's Strawweight|Rose Namajunas (c)|def.|Zhang Weili|Decision (split) (47–48, 48–47, 49–46)|5|5:00|For the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship.

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Bantamweight|Marlon Vera|def.|Frankie Edgar|KO (front kick)|3|3:50|

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Featherweight|Shane Burgos|def.|Billy Quarantillo|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)|3|5:00|

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Lightweight|Justin Gaethje|def.|Michael Chandler|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27)|3|5:00|

}}

{{MMAevent card|Preliminary card (ESPNews / ESPN+)|header=no}}

{{MMAevent bout|Middleweight|Alex Pereira|def.|Andreas Michailidis|TKO (flying knee and punches)|2|0:18|

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Lightweight|Bobby Green|def.|Al Iaquinta|TKO (punches)|1|2:25|

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Middleweight|Chris Curtis|def.|Phil Hawes|KO (punches)|1|4:27|

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Middleweight|Nassourdine Imavov|def.|Edmen Shahbazyan|TKO (elbows)|2|4:42|

}}

{{MMAevent card|Early preliminary card (ESPN+ / UFC Fight Pass)|header=no}}

{{MMAevent bout|Welterweight|Ian Machado Garry|def.|Jordan Williams|KO (punches)|1|4:59|

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Heavyweight|Chris Barnett|def.|Gian Villante|TKO (spinning wheel kick and punches)|2|2:23|

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Light Heavyweight|Dustin Jacoby|def.|John Allan|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27)|3|5:00|

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Catchweight (148.4 lb)|Melsik Baghdasaryan|def.|Bruno Souza|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)|3|5:00|

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Catchweight (127.4 lb)|Ode' Osbourne|def.|C.J. Vergara|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)|3|5:00|

}}

{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}

{{Cite web|url=https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-268|title=UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2|date=26 August 2021 |publisher=Ultimate Fighting Championship|access-date=2021-08-28}}

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.{{Cite web|author=Alexander K. Lee|date=2021-11-07|title=UFC 268 bonuses: Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler thriller leads night of six winners|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/11/7/22767988/ufc-268-bonuses-justin-gaethje-vs-michael-chandler-thriller-leads-night-of-six-winners|access-date=2021-11-07|publisher=mmafighting.com}}

• Fight of the Night: Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler
• Performance of the Night: Marlon Vera, Alex Pereira, Bobby Green, and Chris Barnett

This event won the UFC Honors 2021 Event of the Year award as voted by the fans.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB900kQpeVw|title=Dana White's 2021 President's Choice Awards - UFC Honors|publisher=YouTube|author=UFC|date=2022-01-16|access-date=2024-01-13}}

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