UFC Fight Night 111 results: Colby Covington stuns Dong Hyun Kim in grinder

“Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim and Colby “Chaos” Covington squared off today (Sat., June 17, 2017) at UFC Fight Night 111 live on Fight Pass from inside Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore. The fight featured an up-and-comer, Covington, against an established Top 10-ranked veteran in Kim. Each fighter had compiled three straight wins, and a victory for either could set up the winner for a dark horse run at the Welterweight throne.

Covington opened with a switch kick that missed and he slipped. Kim drove into the clinch and Covington reversed a foot sweep attempt to get a takedown. Kim worked back to his feet, but Covington kept him in a body lock from behind, working continuously for takedowns until he finally worked Kim back to the mat. He landed some ground-and-pound before Kim got back to his feet. Covington stayed on him in the clinch, landing a steady diet of knees and eventually broke the clinch with a spinning elbow ... usually Kim’s move. In open space, Kim tried to walk down Covington, but before he was able to get anything going, he walked into another takedown. In the corner, Kim’s coaches told him he had lost the first round, which was good advice.

The second round opened with traded jabs and kicks in the center of the cage. Kim sprawled on the double-leg from Covington but was content to stay on top from the front headlock, and Covington eventually re-shot, getting that bodylock and working Kim to the mat again. Kim gets back to his feet but not until Covington gets a minute of top control time. Kim was having a really difficult time dealing with the kind of grinding fight that he normally imposes on others. He gets some space and attempts to push forward, but Covington rocked him with a one-two. Kim tried to recover and Covington pressed forward, landing a takedown. Kim worked his way back to standing and hit a spectacular judo toss, but Covington kept his base and worked back to a dominant position. Colby broke the clinch with an elbow as the second round ended.

Kim, finding himself down two rounds to begin the third round, nearly ate a spinning backfist to start round three. Kim tried to work his lead hand, throwing jabs and hooks. Covington was looking for that overhand left that wobbled Kim in the second. He caught Kim with a right hook instead. They clinched for a moment and Covington drove Kim to the floor with a knee tap takedown. Kim worked back up, but Covington kept that body lock, which had proved effective in shutting down Kim the entire fight. He got another takedown — just rinse and repeat. Kim landed a trip and got on top for a moment, but couldn’t maintain top position as Covington got back to his base, and then that bodylock. He dragged Kim down one more time before the bell started.

Covington opened up the post-fight interview screaming on the mic, “I’m the underground king of the division. Dana, I’m a size 32 waist, get that belt ready!” It was possibly the most entertaining part of watching this fight.

Official result: Colby Covington def. Dong Hyun Kim by unanimous decision (30-27x3)

For complete UFC Fight Night 111 coverage, including play-by-play, click here