LAS VEGAS — The heated grudge match between Colby Covington and Tyron Woodley turned out to be pretty much a dud, and it ended in an odd manner.

Covington controlled the first four rounds and Woodley clearly needed a finish to win the bout.

Woodley was working on a guillotine choke in the corner when he suddenly shrieked several times in pain. Referee Dan Miragliotta stopped it at 1:19 of the fifth and called it a TKO. Woodley laid on the ground and was attended to for several minutes as Covington raced around the cage shouting, “I want my belt back.”

Woodley coach Duke Roufus told Yahoo Sports on his way to the locker room that he thought Woodley tore a rib cartilage. He said the same thing happened to Anthony Pettis, another of his fighters.

But Woodley, who lost his third in a row, was never really in the fight. The card was filled with highlights — including Khamzat Chimaev’s 17-second KO — but this fight had few of them. Covington ground Woodley down, but there were no big shots and no memorable scrambles.

Covington, though, was pushing the pace and doing most of the connecting. Woodley seemed unable to get off and couldn’t land his trademark overhand right which has scored so many knockouts and won so many fights for him.

Covington got up after the finish and was excited by the win. He’s likely to fight for the title soon given yet another win over a ranked opponent.

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