Insults a-plenty as Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman go to work at UFC 268 press conference 

In no particular order, here’s a non-comprehensive list of those targeted by Colby Covington’s insults during Thursday’s UFC 268 news conference: Kamaru Usman, Usman’s mother, Usman’s father, Justin Gaethje, NYC mayor Bill de Blasio, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and at least three credentialed media members in attendance.

So when Usman sent Covington stumbling backward with a shove at centerstage inside the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, it wasn’t all that shocking.

The fighters for the UFC 268 main event were separated by UFC president Dana White and security personnel when their faceoff briefly turned physical on Thursday evening, the latest chapter in a long-running feud that may reach its end with their rematch for the UFC welterweight crown inside the Garden on Saturday. The pair last met in December 2019, when Usman emerged victorious with a fifth-round TKO to defend his belt and halt Covington’s run as interim champion.

Usman (19-1, 14-0 UFC) was perturbed enough to make contact with Covington (16-2, 11-2 UFC) Thursday, but earlier in the event, Usman gave some insight on the positives of his rivalry with one of the sport’s most controversial figures.

"I love it, I get it. I appreciate everything that he does everything that he comes with," Usman said. "I love it because it's another challenge for me to get over. At this point in life, at this point in my career, I look forward to those challenges. On Saturday night, I'll do what I do best, and that's smash another challenge."

Covington spent much of his time on the microphone lobbing baseless accusations of cheating against Usman, saying he had no interest in a sportsmanlike handshake at fight’s end.

"I'm gonna give the people what they want, they want this clown out of there," Covington said to a crowd evenly split in its support for the main event fighters. "They want a real champion. I'm gonna be a real champion for the people."

On the other end of the chaotic energy spectrum, co-main event competitors Rose Namajunas and Zhang Weili displayed a mutual respect throughout the event ahead of their rematch for the women’s strawweight title.

"Just look at her resume and look what she’s done to her opponents," Namajunas said of Zhang. "I’ve got to protect myself at all times and be on my toes."

Fighting in New York for the third time, strawweight champion Namajunas (10-4, 8-3 UFC) has become a favorite to local fans, receiving some of the evening’s biggest cheers. That didn't seem to ruin the atmosphere for Zhang (21-2, 5-1 UFC).

"I'm so happy to be here to see all the fans in New York," Zhang said through a translator. "New York City has so many different cultures, so many different nationalities, I'm just so happy to be here."

Somewhere in the middle of those two duos was the vibe between Gaethje (22-3, 5-3 UFC) and Michael Chandler (22-6, 1-1 UFC). The collegiate-wrestlers-turned-brawlers compete in a likely No. 1 contender fight at lightweight to open the main card on Saturday.

"This is a dude I wanted to fight years before I stepped in the octagon," Chandler said of Gaethje. "Partly because selfishly I want the challenge, I want to compete against him. I do believe we are cut from the same cloth."

Gaethje returned the respect but said he expects Chandler to give in to his power sooner than later.

"He fights the same as I do, both fireworks from the beginning," Gaethje said. "He’s going to turn into a wrestler real quick, talking about taking steps backwards. We’ll see who’s the [expletive] when he starts shooting for legs."

Chandler, in step with the emotional and boisterous crowd on hand, offered his take on how the fight will play out: "Justin Gaethje goes out in one!"