Tag: Colby Covington

Kamaru Usman: Belal Muhammad’s trash talk ‘not far’ from Colby Covington’s

Kamaru Usman thinks UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is nearing Colby Covington territory with his trash talk.

[autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] thinks UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] is nearing [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] territory with his trash talk.

That’s quite the statement from former champion Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC), considering that Covington has gone after his father’s troubled past in the build-up of their title fights. Usman was pointing to Muhammad’s dig at UFC 315 opponent Jack Della Maddalena.

“Just when I was gonna donate to your fundraiser so your coaches can come …enjoy spirit airlines.”

Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) is referring to the rumor that emerged about Della Maddalena needing a fundraiser to fly the rest of his coaching staff to Montreal, Quebec, Canada for his title fight on May 10. That rumor was later debunked as a misunderstanding.

Either way, Usman was critical of Muhammad’s way with words.

“I don’t think that’s very Muslim-esque,” Usman said of Muhammad on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Cejudo. “We don’t care about that. It is what it is. This is a guy who really is, for as much as you say you don’t like Covington for what Covington did to get to the top of the division and how he talks to people, you’re not far from it right now.

“And I think a lot of fans see that, and a lot of fans understand that as well, but it is what it is. At least these two guys are going to be able to step in there and actually settle it, so I’m excited for that.”

Usman’s dislike for Muhammad stems from an alleged scuffle that they had when Muhammad came on as a guest on his podcast. The episode never aired, but Usman’s co-host Henry Cejudo confirmed that things got physical between the two.

“I almost got kicked,” Cejudo told MMA Junkie. “Punches were thrown, and I had a messed-up ankle at that time. So Kamaru Usman and Belal, Belal was kicking me to my head, dude. Luckily I did a little slip. But it was definitely Rated R.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 315.

Sean Brady slams Colby Covington for calling him an easy matchup: ‘I would f*cking kill him’

Sean Brady doesn’t think a fight with Colby Covington would even be worth his time.

[autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] wouldn’t even be worth his time.

Covington (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) was asked about Brady’s dominant submission win over Leon Edwards less than two weeks ago in the UFC Fight Night 255 headliner and called him a good matchup. Brady (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) was also called out by [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC), but the now No. 1-ranked UFC welterweight dismissed both fighters.

“I was trying to get the Usman fight for months,” Brady said on his “The BradyBagz Show.” “DM’d him, hit him up, now he’s like, ‘Me and Brady should fight for the No. 1 contender.’ Oh, should we? I just beat the guy who beat you twice! Either I’m fighting for the belt next, I could fight the winner or loser, or really me vs. Shavkat for No. 1 contender.”

As for Covington calling him an easy matchup, Brady went off on the former interim champion, who’s currently on a two-fight losing skid.

“Same thing with him (Covington): I was asking for that fight for so long. The UFC pretty much told me, ‘This guy sucks,'” Brady said. “The best thing, I watched him, my brother sent me this clip where he said, ‘Sean Brady f*cking sucks. I never watched one of his fights. Blah blah blah. I remember watching him get beat up by Belal.’ Brother, you just said you never watched one of my fights, but then you watched me get beat up by Belal, so what are you talking about?

“He’s this high-level wrestler. I’m like, ‘Bro, Leon took you down multiple times, beat the sh*t out of you. Do you see what I just did to Leon? What would I do to you? I would f*cking kill him. He’s not even getting anyone in the top 15. Dude, he might not even have a f*cking job. When is the last time that dude won a fight? He f*cking sucks. Colby, you’re a p*ssy. How do you get punched on by (Jorge) Masvidal in public and go sue him? You’re not a pro fighter. You’re a p*ssy.”

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Jorge Masvidal also interested in rematch with ‘b*tch ass’ Colby Covington for UFC return

Jorge Masvidal has zeroed in on two rivals for his UFC comeback.

[autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] has zeroed in on two rivals for his UFC comeback.

Masvidal (35-17 MMA, 12-10 UFC), who retired in April 2023 after his fourth-straight loss to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287, is looking to return to the octagon. On top of his wishlist as a comeback opponent is ex-champion Leon Edwards, whom he attacked backstage during an altercation in London in March 2019.

If not Edwards, Masvidal wants to run things back with friend-turned-enemy [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC), who beat him in their grudge match at UFC 272. Shortly after their fight, Masvidal attacked Covington outside a Miami restaurant.

“Leon’s ass, b*tch ass Colby, always that’s another one too,” Masvidal said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “Whenever I see that guy (throws punches).”

Covington is also looking to rebound after his first-career skid. The former interim welterweight champion is coming off back-to-back losses to Edwards and most recently Joaquin Buckley at UFC on ESPN 63.

Masvidal enjoyed watching Buckley stop Covington.

“I saw the highlights of it. I didn’t see the entire of it,” Masvidal continued. “I saw the highlights, and I liked it. Buckley busted his ass up. Nah, I wasn’t surprised. He does a lot of drugs and sh*t from what I hear, man. It’s catching up. His cardio, his God-given ability was the only thing he had, and he snorted it away. Yeah, you want to take a deep dive into him, you could see it in the character. He’s a f*cking mess.”

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Michael Chiesa admits it’s hard to say if Colby Covington fight happens: ‘He’s no-selling me’

Michael Chiesa still wants to fight Colby Covington, but isn’t sure the interest is reciprocated.

[autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] still wants to fight [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag], but isn’t sure the interest is reciprocated.

Both Covington (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) and Chiesa (17-7 MMA, 12-7 UFC) are serving as assistant coaches for Season 33 of “The Ultimate Fighter” – with Covington on Team Chael Sonnen, and “TUF 15” winner Chiesa on Team Daniel Cormier.

Cormier and Sonnen suggested that Covington and Chiesa fight after the airing of the show, but Covington has since taken the opportunity to trash Chiesa.

“It’s hard to say (if it will happen),” Chiesa told MMA Junkie. “Colby kind of keeps to himself. It would be hard to be at – if it’s a zero out of 10 in terms of the ‘Chaos’ side of Colby Covington, it’s hard to be at a 10 all the time. There was some interactions (between us) – a lot of them off-camera.

“But I’m sure they interviewed him and asked for his opinion about me, and they did the same for me. That’s all I can say. I don’t know what’s going to come of it. I expressed interest in fighting Colby for years. I know it’s a tough fight. It’s a really, really hard fight, honestly. Stylistically it’s a very tough matchup for me.”

Chiesa’s desire to fight Covington is not about “The Ultimate Fighter.” Outside of previously calling him out, Chiesa shared an interesting story that has linked him to Covington for years.

“There’s always been this weird history between him and I that he didn’t even know about,” Chiesa said. “My high school wrestling coach was his college coach’s brother. Once Colby and I got in the UFC, Dusty, my coach, would be like, ‘I think my guy can whoop your guy’s ass.’ That’s when it started. And this was before Colby became Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington. He was a lot more humble. He didn’t speak as much. He wasn’t this outgoing guy yet.

“At that time, I was at ’55. Then I went up to ’70 and obviously once you start winning fights, you’re calling for the bigger ones so you can make your way up the ladder. That’s a fight I would always take. If it was ever offered to me, I’m going to say yes at the drop of a hat. We’ll see what happens. I don’t have a fight scheduled yet. I know I need to have a conversation with Sean (Shelby) and the team about what the plan is, what we’re going to do. I’m interested. I want to hear what he says about me on ‘TUF.’ He’s no-selling me. I’m interested to see what he says.”

Covington was recently asked about his interest in fighting Chiesa in an interview with Submission Radio, which he immediately shut down.

“Another irrelevant bum who got submitted by Kevin Lee,” Covington said. “The only reason he has any type of hype is because Kevin Lee made his mom famous. So, there’s just no interest there. He’s a nobody. He’s a bum. But you know what? He was a great example for the Sonnen system and for Team Sonnen. We were able to tell these fighters that this is the perfect representation of what you don’t want to do when you win ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’

“Don’t be a Michael Chiesa. Don’t become a irrelevant bum who rides other people’s meat for a form of transportation, and I’m talking about him riding DC’s (Cormier) meat for transportation to try and get a big fight with me. He’s just not a big fight, and he doesn’t do any business for the company. So, they’ve never offered me the fight, and I know that’s not going to interest the UFC. So, I want to do what’s in the best interest of the UFC.”

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Colby Covington responds to ‘irrelevant bum’ Michael Page’s callout

Colby Covington went off on Michael Page for calling him out.

[autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] went off on [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] for calling him out.

During this past week’s Q&A at The O2 in London, Page said he’d love to punch Covington in the face. In his past outing, Page (23-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) handed Shara Magomedov his first-career loss at UFC Fight Night 250, but plans on returning to welterweight for his next bout.

Meanwhile, Covington (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) is looking to rebound from his first-career skid after back-to-back losses to former champion Leon Edwards and Joaquin Buckley.

“I didn’t pay attention to it. I don’t pay attention to anything he does,” Covington told Submission Radio of Page’s callout. “He’s another irrelevant bum. He was knocked out unconscious in the B leagues. You’ve never seen me laying unconscious in the UFC octagon, fighting the best fighters in the world for the last decade straight.

“So, there’s no truth to that. He’s not a good fighter, and he beat some one-eyed, glass-eyed dude. Like, come on. There’s no honor in beating a one-eyed guy. The guy probably shouldn’t even be fighting. It’s a miracle that that guy is even in the UFC. But, no reaction. He’s just another bum that’s chirping that can easily get his ass whooped as well.”

Covington is confident he has the style to make easy work of Page if they were booked in a headliner.

“If it’s a five round fight, I’m taking the life out of him,” Covington said. “I’m going to take him down, I’m going to drown him, and I’m going to punch a hole through his face. I don’t like it when people say mean things about me. So, if the fight happens and that’s what the UFC wants, then let’s do it. But, he’s another guy that’s just not interesting. He has no charisma. He doesn’t draw anything.”

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Colby Covington: UFC 315 headliners Belal Muhammad, Jack Della Maddalena ‘don’t draw flies to sh*t’

Colby Covington sees Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena doing low numbers at UFC 315.

[autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] sees [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jack Della Maddalena[/autotag] doing low numbers at UFC 315.

Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) defends his welterweight title against Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in the May 10 main event (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Covington (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) took aim at the star power of both headliners.

“I see that bout really boring the fans,” Covington said in an interview with Tim Welch. “I feel bad for the fans that that’s what they get for a title fight. That’s just piss poor, and two losers in the sport that don’t draw flies to sh*t.”

Covington is no longer in the title picture after back-to-back losses to Leon Edwards and Joaquin Buckley. He is not short of options with the likes of Themba Gorimbo, Michael Chiesa, and Michael Page calling him out, but the former interim welterweight champion is only eyeing big fights.

“Anybody that has that big name (is who I want next),” Covington said. “Big fights, wherever the biggest and best fights that I can get done for the UFC, that’s what I want to do. We’ve got to see how things are going. There are a couple of people who have been running my name through their mouths, so they can get their mouth shut for sure. But I’ve got to see what the UFC wants to do.

“I want legacy fights, big fights, former champions, big, high-level fights – not guys that are just coming up and just starting to build their name because I’ve been here, I’ve done that, I’m a world champion. It doesn’t matter what my ranking is. I’m the champion of the division. I’m the biggest draw, and I’m the biggest star in the division. So anytime I fight, it’s a championship fight.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 315.

Colby Covington: Leon Edwards ‘should hang them up’ after UFC London loss

Colby Covington questions Leon Edwards’ desire to compete after UFC Fight Night 255.

[autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] questions [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag]’ desire to compete after UFC Fight Night 255.

Former welterweight champion Edwards (22-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) was stopped for the first time in his career when he was submitted by Sean Brady in Saturday’s main event at The O2 in London. Covington (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC), who rallied late in a title loss to Edwards at UFC 296, thinks Edwards doesn’t have the fire in him anymore.

“I kind of thought that after I fought Leon, the motivation wasn’t there anymore,” Covington told Submission Radio. “I mean, I could tell in the fight. Like, I broke my foot immediately, and he did nothing. He didn’t try and come after me.

“He just, you know, tried to point coast to to a decision. So, I could tell after that fight, he just wasn’t hungry anymore. He’s made too much money. I made him too much money at that press conference. So, yeah, I just don’t think he’s motivated anymore, and he should hang them up.”

Covington vs. Brady next?

Covington is seeking big fights. When asked about Brady, who’s now the No. 1 ranked UFC welterweight, Covington didn’t appear too interested but is willing to fight him if offered.

“He’s still not a draw. He still doesn’t draw flies to sh*t,” Covington said. “So, I want to do good business for the company. Whatever the biggest and best fights that the company wants, that’s what I’m on board with. If he’s what’s on board, fine, if it’s a good matchup. He’s not going to take me down and submit me.

“It’s going to be a striking fight, and as we saw on the fight with Belal (Muhammad), we found out that kid has a glass jaw. So, the fact that you’ve got knocked out by Belal, that kind of shows the company everything that you’re made of. You’re not anything special. So, if the company wants me to end the hype, no problem. It’s a pretty easy matchup.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.

UFC analyst says Colby Covington struggling to keep up MAGA heel persona

Paul Felder believes Colby Covington will be “first the first to admit to you that it was all complete bullsh*t” after he retires.

[autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag] questions the sincerity of [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag]’s character.

Covington (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) embraces his heel personality, which has helped increase his popularity significantly from his days as a rising welterweight contender. An avid supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, Covington pulls no punches when addressing just about anyone on the UFC roster.

However, Felder has noticed a change in his behavior – at least when it comes to his organic linkups. Covington was recently seen greeting former rival Kamaru Usman, and Paddy Pimblett shared his own recent experience with Covington.

“Walked past Colby Covington, he stared at the floor,” Pimblett said on his YouTube channel. “Talks a big game online, sh*ts his undies in person.”

Felder thinks Covington isn’t who he portrays.

“Recently there was also an encounter with Kamaru Usman when Kamaru walked by Colby, and he was just nothing but respectful,” Felder said on the “Believe You Me” podcast. “I think that his persona is fading. Do you know what I mean? I think he’s struggling to keep up that MAGA, Mr. America bully from college persona these days. I think he’s even himself struggling to get through it because the real issue is – and Paddy’s right – he is quiet in person. The real situation is that he has nothing really against you, Paddy. He really doesn’t actually want to talk sh*t to you.

“He doesn’t really want to talk sh*t to most of these guys. He’s only doing it so that he can keep himself relevant. I think when he’s finally retired, he’ll be the first to admit to you that it was all complete bullsh*t, 100 percent. I think now at late 30s, towards the end of his career, he’s struggling to keep the same face with that bullsh*t, and that’s the problem with that type of personality when it’s not genuine – because it’s not with Colby, because I’ve hung out with that guy for an extended period of time, and he’s not like that.”

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Colby Covington avoids awkward run-in with Themba Gorimbo at UFC PI, gets response

Colby Covington narrowly avoided running into former teammate Themba Gorimbo.

[autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] narrowly avoided running into former teammate [autotag]Themba Gorimbo[/autotag].

Covington (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) and Gorimbo (14-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC) used to train together at MMA Masters in Miami, with Gorimbo previously crediting Covington for helping his career.

However, the pair recently had a falling out when Gorimbo claimed that Covington kicked him out of the UFC Performance Institute in the lead-up to his fight with Leon Edwards last December at UFC 296. Gorimbo has since switched gyms for Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.

In a recent Twitch stream on his YouTube channel, Covington almost ran into Gorimbo at the UFC PI but decided to take a U-turn (h/t Home of Fight).

“You saw who was down there? The ungrateful motherf*cker who we used to feed,” Covington said. “I think we should just go f*cking train around him actually.”

Gorimbo took to X to respond to Covington.

“I like you Colby no need to be so scared my guy. But yeah if you feel or ever feel like I am an easy fight please don’t hesitate to call me out. I know you desperately need a win and won’t take a fight in the rankings and you think I am easier fight for you. On the flip side I desperately want to be in the rankings and I see you to be the easy way in for me 👊🫵🏿. However i ain’t naive that I have work to do but hey we can bent the rules for once maybe 😂 just so the fans can see what happened in our training sessions. Bless Colby, next time say hi. I promise i am just ugly but don’t bite 😉.”

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Colby Covington rips ‘irrelevant bum’ Michael Chiesa for ‘riding off other people’s meats’

Could Colby Covington be trying to sell a potential UFC fight with Michael Chiesa?

Could [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] be trying to sell a potential UFC fight with [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag]?

Both Covington (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) and Chiesa are serving as assistant coaches for Season 33 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which is currently filming. Covington is on Team Chael Sonnen, while “TUF 15” winner Chiesa is on Team Daniel Cormier.

Cormier and Sonnen suggested that Covington face Chiesa (17-7 MMA, 12-7 UFC) after the filming of the show. While Covington didn’t comment on the possibility of fighting Chiesa, he took the opportunity to go off on him.

“I think that’s everything you don’t want to do when you become ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ winner,” Covington said of Chiesa on his YouTube channel. “You don’t want to become an irrelevant bum who rides people’s meats – DC in particular for public transportation. Don’t be that guy riding off other people’s meats. Become a star. Be your own f*cking guy that has to sell himself.

“Don’t have to ride off of other people’s jocks like Michael Chiesa. He’s a great example of what you don’t want to do when you become an ‘Ultimate Fighter’ champion. He’s a great example for the kids on the show that I can tell them don’t be a Michael Chiesa. Be a Colby Covington, be a Daniel Cormier, be a Chael Sonnen. Those are how you get paid and make it in this industry.”

Chiesa called out Covington after quickly submitting Tony Ferguson at UFC on ABC 7 last August. He then submitted Max Griffin at UFC 310 this past December. Meanwhile, former interim welterweight champion Covington is 2-4 in his past six fights, most recently a doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley in the UFC on ESPN 63 main event.

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