REPORT: Colby Covington vs. Robbie Lawler targeted for Newark

Colby Covington and  Robbie Lawler have agreed to fight at UFC Newark in August.

The UFC’s welterweight division may not have a title fight booked, but a very important fight within the division will likely take place in August.

According to Brett Okamoto of ESPN, a welterweight showdown between former interim champion Colby Covington and former champion Robbie Lawler has been verbally agreed upon for UFC on ESPN 5 in Newark, New Jersey, in August.

Breaking: Colby Covington vs. Robbie Lawler has been verbally agreed to headline UFC Fight Night on Aug. 3 in Newark, per UFC president Dana White and additional sources. pic.twitter.com/hx8XeqZNMy

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) June 25, 2019

The fight will help sort out a division that is crowded at the top.

Covington won the interim title at UFC 225 in June 2018 , defeating Rafael dos Anjos.

However, Covington was stripped of the title in September, due to inactivity.

In the meantime, Kamaru Usman became the undisputed champion when he defeated Tyron Woodley at UFC 235 in March. According to his management, Usman is not ready to return to action.

Statement from UFC champ Kamaru Usman (@USMAN84kg), per his manager Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00). “I should be ready to go by November. Whoever Dana White says is next. He’s the boss. If Askren looks good and that’s who the UFC wants, he’s next.”

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) June 25, 2019

Lawler has also been in the orbit of Tyron Woodley and UFC 235.

At UFC 235, Lawler lost a controversial fight to Ben Askren due to technical submission.

Additionally, Lawler was originally scheduled to face Tyron Woodley (The man who defeated Lawler for the title in 2016) at the upcoming UFC Fight Night in Minnesota. The fight was cancelled when Woodley withdrew due to injury.

Fellow welterweight contenders Ben Askren and Jorge Masvidal will face off at UFC 239 on July 6th.

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