Tag: Colby Covington

Gilbert Burns won’t chase Colby Covington fight: ‘Too much drama for me’

Gilbert Burns thinks it would be a waste of time pursuing a fight with Colby Covington.

[autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] thinks it would be a waste of time pursuing a fight with [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag].

Currently experiencing the first losing skid of his career, Burns doesn’t think he’s in a position to pick and choose any fights. The former title challenger recently accepted Joaquin Buckley’s callout, but won’t be ready to fight until at least three months.

Burns (22-7 MMA, 15-7 UFC) says he’s dealing with some injuries and will be cleared for full training by June. “Durinho” is targeting an end of August return, and sees multiple options for his next fight.

“I have no names, but I have a couple of guys that have been asking to fight me,” Burns told MMA Junkie Radio. “Buckley was super, super loud. Sean Brady. Geoff Neal. I think one of those three guys. Colby is always an option, but we will see.”

Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) would be most ideal for Burns since the multiple-time title challenger is the highest-ranked out of the names he previously mentioned. However, after seeing Covington’s fight with Ian Machado Garry fall through, Burns thinks the same likely would happen to him.

“I like Colby, too. I like that fight,” Burns said. “I always wanted to make that fight, but it’s just too complicated – too much drama for me. We saw the whole drama with Ian Garry. I’m hearing Ian Garry might fight ‘MVP’ (Michael Page) now. The fight was supposed to be a done deal.

“Those guys were kind of attacking each other back-and-forth, and the fight didn’t happen. So I’m not chasing that fight. If they offer, I’m going to say yes. But that’s one that I’m not chasing because I know there’s a lot of drama. It’s not easy to get this guy to sign a deal. I would love that fight, but I’m not chasing that fight.”

Daniel Cormier: Colby Covington needs to recognize the situation he’s in

Daniel Cormier doesn’t think Colby Covington is in a position to be picky in terms of his next fight.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] doesn’t think [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] is in a position to be picky in terms of his next fight.

Covington and Ian Machado Garry were angling to fight each other, but Covington insists he never got an official fight offer from the UFC. Covington said the ship has sailed on Garry, and called out Belal Muhammad, accusing him of sitting on his ranking.

Thursday, however, UFC CEO Dana White announced Muhammad is set for a UFC 304 welterweight title challenge against champion Leon Edwards on July 27 in Manchester, England.

Covington, a multi-time title challenger, looked lackluster in his title-fight loss to Edwards at UFC 296 after he broke his foot early. Cormier says Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) now needs to take a step back.

“Colby Covington said that he feels like Belal Muhammad is sitting on his ranking and doesn’t deserve a title fight,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “I love Colby. I think Colby’s cool. I think he’s a good dude. I think he’s fine. But come on, Colby. Come on, brother. Colby can’t say or try to determine who gets a title fight right now because of the way he lost to Leon Edwards and the way he fought. It seems like he’s unwilling to fight Ian Garry.

“I think he should maybe step back and just not really say much at all until another fight comes his way. I don’t know what the hesitance is to fighting Ian Garry for Colby Covington. I don’t know if he just doesn’t want to fight back in the rankings. But I think he needs to recognize that in this situation, that’s kind of what he’s going to get right now because of the way that he lost that last fight. He didn’t fight well.”

Former interim champion Covington has split his past six octagon appearances with title losses to Kamaru Usman twice and, most recently, Edwards.

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With Colby Covington ‘running,’ Ian Machado Garry reveals slew of names offered by UFC

With Colby Covington officially off the table, all Ian Machado Garry cares about now is competing at UFC 303 with Conor McGregor

[autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] says a fight with [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] is officially off the table.

Garry (14-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) revealed that the UFC said Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) is still healing from his broken foot and won’t be ready to compete until September. Covington already pivoted to other opponents, but at this point, Garry just wants to fight at UFC 303 on June 29, which is headlined by fellow Irishman Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler.

“It’s (UFC) 303 or nothing for me,” Garry told talkSPORT MMA. “We’ve got a potential to make a lot of Irish history here. There was me shouting for Colby to be the co-main and for me and Conor to be co-main and main event. It was going to be huge for Irish history, but Colby’s running, and he’s out. There’s been other people that have been offered and they’re running, too. They’re all coming up with excuses. … I’m sick of this ranking stuff.

“I’m in a position where everyone above me is injured and then Leon (Edwards) and Belal (Muhammad) are facing off against each other. I have no interest in fighting anyone below me, but I’m kind of in a position where I have no choice other than to wait, and the last thing I want to do is wait. I want to be active. Anyone that is willing to stand across the octagon from me on June 29 can get their ass whooped.”

Garry said he has accepted every name the UFC has put forward – including Michael Page.

“I can only fight down in the rankings, and this is where I’ve got to show that I will fight anyone,” Garry said. “… I’ve said yes to that name (Page). Him and his coaches are deciding because he feels a bit heavy. He’s a bit heavy to make weight in seven weeks’ time, but I’ve said yes.

“I’ve gone through about eight or nine names, and it’s like, ‘No, don’t want that fight, not interested.’ They’ve offered me Colby, I’ve said yes to MVP, I’ve said yes to Sean Brady, I’ve said yes to the Uzbekistani guy (Ruziboev) if he had won, I’ve said yes to Joaquin Buckley.”

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Colby Covington: Belal Muhammad ‘squatting on his ranking,’ doesn’t deserve UFC title fight

Colby Covington has turned his attention to Belal Muhammad.

[autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] has turned his attention to [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag].

After months of back-and-forth, Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) says the “ship has sailed” on a potential Ian Machado Garry fight. The former multiple-time title challenger now wants Muhammad next.

“I would like Belal,” Covington told Submission Radio. He’s talked a lot of smack. I want that racist to catch a fade. ‘Remember the Racist’ – he’s out there saying that I only got my title shot ‘because of white privilege.'”

Muhammad (23-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) has been calling out Covington for years, but is now touted to be welterweight champion Leon Edwards next title challenger. Muhammad is on a 10-fight unbeaten streak – most recently defeating Gilbert Burns at UFC 288 in May 2023.

Covington thinks Muhammad isn’t worthy of the shot.

“Now he’s squatting on his ranking,” Covington said. “Guys, he should have to come out and fight. I think we should fight. I think that’s the fight that should be next. He doesn’t deserve a title fight, guys.

“How long has he sat out? He sat up for over a year. He’s squatting on his ranking. That’s not right, guys. He’s squatting. He doesn’t deserve it. What does he deserve? What has he done lately? When was his last fight?”

Covington sees Muhammad as a good stylistic matchup for him, one where he’d have the advantage everywhere.

“I see myself KO-ing him,” Covington said. “It’s just an easy fight. He can’t strike with me, and I’ll show the world that he’s just one-dimensional. He’s not going to out-wrestle me. He won’t take me down one time. If he tries to take me down, he’ll get submitted so fast. His takedowns are so average at best.

“And his striking, it’s so bad. I mean, you couldn’t put away a one-arm Gilbert Burns. Like, come on, dude. The guy was on one shoulder. He had one arm, and you couldn’t put that guy away. That’s pretty sad and pathetic. So I think I KO the guy and I think that it’s a pretty easy fight. If the UFC wants to give me that easy fight, that’s the fight I want.”

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Colby Covington now open to Belal Muhammad matchup, ‘super intrigued’ by Khamzat Chimaev

If Ian Machado Garry isn’t next, Colby Covington is looking up in the UFC welterweight rankings.

If Ian Machado Garry isn’t next, [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] is looking up in the UFC welterweight rankings.

Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) denied Garry’s claims that he was offered a matchup with the Irishman and insists that he’s the one concerned that Garry (14-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) won’t show up.

When asked whom he’d ideally like to fight, three-time former title challenger Covington pointed to top contender [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] (23-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC), who is expected to be welterweight champion Leon Edwards’ next title challenger.

“Maybe this kid (Belal) Muhammad, who’s been talking a lot,” Covington said on “The Rush” podcast. “He’s up there in the rankings above me. So, I think if I beat that guy, it gets me right back to a title fight.

“I don’t know, anybody. I could fight Joe Schmo off the street, and I’m going to get the same paycheck. It’s going to be a high-level fight. Every time I get on the mic you know I’m going to sell that sh*t to the moon.”

Another name that interests Covington is [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who’s currently focused on making a middleweight title run. Chimaev is coming off a narrow decision win over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and is slated to face Robert Whittaker at UFC on ABC 6 on June 22 in Saudi Arabia.

“In a five-round fight, I would be super intrigued by that fight,” Covington said of Chimaev. “I always told them I want this guy in a main event. I don’t think he can last. His cardio doesn’t look that good. His last fight he fought Usman at 185 on one weeks’ notice, and I thought Usman won the fight.

“He landed more strikes. He came out the first round, he wrestled him, and he didn’t do any damage. The second and third rounds, he was just coasting to a victory. I think he’s going to get exposed soon. He doesn’t have good cardio, and he’s not as good as everybody thinks he is.”

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Colby Covington denies contract offer for Ian Machado Garry: ‘This fight has not been presented’

Colby Covington denies Ian Machado Garry’s claims that UFC sent him a contract for the two to fight.

[autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] says one thing, [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] says another.

It looks like there are contrasting stories about a potential fight between the two welterweights. For weeks, Garry (14-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has claimed that contract offers have been sent out for a fight, and he’s been urging Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) to sign his deal to make the grudge match official.

However, that’s not the case, at least according to Covington.

“We all know that he’s a cuck, but now we know he’s a liar,” Covington told The Rush podcast. “UFC, Hunter (Campbell), Dana (White), they haven’t talked to me about this fight. This fight has not been presented. He’s just lying, and he’s trying to get clickbait and people to talk about him.”

Covington says he’s yet to be booked for a fight, but is ready and awaiting for an offer from the UFC. The longtime welterweight contender is coming off a unanimous decision loss to champion Leon Edwards in December.

He’d be interested in the Garry fight, but he’s concerned about Garry not showing up to fight. That’s why he insists that the three stipulations must be completed to show he’s serious about the fight.

“I don’t know who I’m fighting,” Covington said. “I gave him stipulations. I said, ‘Hey, if you want to fight me and you’re serious about business, just show me you’re serious because when I show up, I want to make money because I’m trying to do good business.

“We already saw at our last press conference he didn’t show up because he knew I was going to have a live mic. He’s already scared to show up to a press conference when he’s not fighting me, what’s going to happen when he’s at a press conference and has to fight me. He’s probably not going to show up. I gave him stipulations. If you want to fight me and show that you’re serious about business, turn on your comments.”

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Colby Covington confirms summer return, says Ian Machado Garry ‘has to show me he’s serious’

Colby Covington suggests Ian Machado Garry is the one that’s not serious about fighting him.

[autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] suggests [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] is the one that’s not serious about fighting him.

Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) and Garry (14-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) have gone back-and-forth about potentially facing each other, but a matchup is yet to materialize.

However, Garry has a different side to the story. The undefeated fighter hinted at a fight offer against Covington from the UFC, but claims it’s Covington who won’t sign the contract. Covington says the plan is to return at UFC 303 on June 29.

“I’m going to fight this summer for sure. Someone’s going to get fought,” Covington said on the “Twins Pod.” “They’re trying to figure out who the biggest name and the best business that we can do for the UFC. International Fight Week is like their big event in the summer that the UFC does.

“They have a big festival all week, big events they set up, and it’s capped off by this big pay-per-view on Saturday. So I think that’s when they’re planning for me is International Fight Week. (We’re) just trying to figure out who who’s going to be the guy.”

Garry called out Covington after defeating Geoff Neal at UFC 298 in February. Covington eventually responded, but said he’d only fight Garry if he met three stipulations. Covington and Garry were going to share the stage for the UFC 296 pre-fight press conference this past December, but Garry no showed and later withdrew from his fight against Vicente Luque due to a battle with pneumonia.

“There’s this kid that’s been calling me out,” Covington said. “This kid, Ian Garry, he’s a nobody. I gave him some stipulations and said, ‘Hey man, if you want to fight me, you have to show me you’re serious about business,’ because when I do business, I’m serious about it. I show up to every fight. I’ve never pulled out of one fight. I’ve been injured, I’ve been sick, but I always show up and do my business because I love the UFC as the greatest organization in the world.

“So he has to show me he’s serious. He was supposed to be on my last event in the press conference. He pulls out the day of the press conference because he knew I was going to be on stage, and we’re going to have some beef. So that shows me that he’s not serious.”

At UFC 296, Covington lost to welterweight champion Leon Edwards by unanimous decision. The former multiple-time title challenger is eager to run things back with Edwards after breaking his foot early in their fight.

“I’ve got unfinished business with my last fight, Leon Edwards, the guy that has the title right now,” Covington said. “I broke my foot in the first five seconds of the fight. I threw a kick. It broke in three different places. So that wasn’t me that night. So whoever I have to go through to get that fight (is what I want).”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.

Video: Ryan Garcia shows Colby Covington left hooks after Donald Trump meetup in Florida

Colby Covington was audibly awed by the striking tips Ryan Garcia gave him after a Donald Trump meetup at Mar-a-Lago.

Boxing star [autotag]Ryan Garcia[/autotag] and UFC contender [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] recently encountered one another at a Donald Trump meetup in Palm Beach, Fla. and technique tips were exchanged.

After shadowboxing for Trump and seemingly giving his endorsement with a “Trump 2024” cry inside The Mar-a-Lago Club, Garcia was filmed teaching Covington left hook striking sequences.

Garcia explained his mindset with left hook placements and topped off his demonstration with an uppercut, as Covington looked on, audibly awed.

The two then embraced. Covington later posting a picture with Garcia captioned “Kings.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6P_AHOLbCY/

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6RzJFPuJzX/

Covington has not competed since a December title shot loss to Leon Edwards. In recent weeks, he’s been repeatedly called out by Ian Garry, who has peppered his social media with comments.

Garcia rides high off a fairly dominant boxing match win April 20 over Devin Haney.

Ian Machado Garry puts pressure on Colby Covington, posts video claiming UFC fight contract signed

Ian Machado Garry says he’s done his part. Now it’s up to Colby Covington to make their UFC fight official.

[autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] says he’s done his part. Now it’s up to [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] to make it official.

Garry (14-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce that he has signed a contract to fight Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) but has yet to hear back from the long-time UFC welterweight contender.

“What’s up, everyone?” Garry said in a short video. “It’s Tuesday the 9th of April at 10 past (1 pm). I have agreed to fight Colby Covington. There is a date in place, (but) Colby still hasn’t signed the contract.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5jAJkBuuna/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

The UFC hasn’t made anything official, and there hasn’t been confirmation on contracts being sent out to both fighters. Garry and Covington have been teasing a fight for several weeks and have taken many shots at each other social media.

This all started after Garry’s most recent win at UFC 298 in February. In his post-fight interview after defeating Geoff Neal, the Irish contender called out Covington, who eventually responded to his challenge but said he’d only fight Garry if he met three stipulations.

Garry was not keen on playing Covington’s games and said the stipulations were a way for Covington to coward out of the fight.

Now the pressure apparently is on Covington.

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Daniel Cormier: Colby Covington has to ‘stand behind his words,’ fight Ian Machado Garry

Daniel Cormier thinks Colby Covington not fighting Ian Machado Garry would be a bad look.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] not fighting [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] would be a bad look.

Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) accepted Garry’s initial callout, but put some stipulations – which included that his wife Layla be featured in one of his fight prediction videos for his betting sponsorship. The pair have since been going back-and-forth, but Garry is no longer confident that Covington actually wants to fight him.

However, Cormier says the multiple-time title challenger has reached a point where he has to fight Garry (14-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC).

“What does Colby Covington fight for today as a guy who’s fought for championships his entire career? What motivates him? It would seem to be the big fight,” Cormier said of Covington on his YouTube channel. “Does the Ian Garry fight feel like that to him? It should, because competitively, you’ve got to beat the guy that wants to be the up-and-comer because regardless of what you think of Ian Garry, he can fight. It doesn’t matter what you think of someone’s personality or anything. You have to respect the skill level, and Ian Garry has a very high level of skill.

“Colby Covington, after the fight with Leon Edwards, may not be looking forward to being in there with another long, rangy striker. But the actions say: ‘Let’s fight.’ Now it’s time to put pen to paper. They have to fight because when you hurl the insults and you say that man’s name, and you constantly talk about him, his life outside the octagon, when you now start taking personal shots at Colby’s political views, now you’ve got a fight. I believe that International Fight Week works perfect.”

Cormier points to Covington’s past rivals as examples. Covington doesn’t often acknowledge those who call him out, but now that he’s addressed Garry, Cormier wants to see them settle the score.

“When he spoke about Kamaru Usman in weird ways or disrespectful ways, he fought Kamaru Usman,” Cormier said. “When he talked about Leon Edwards, he fought Leon Edwards. When he talked about anyone, he fought him if that was an option. … If you are going to take this role, or play the villain in everybody’s story, the villain always has to get his comeuppance, where he has to step in front of the sword and fight.

“He’s got to step into that battlefield and he’s got to show that he’s willing to stand behind his words. I think that’s where we are now with this Colby Covington-Ian Garry deal. Colby’s got to stand up on his words now and go fight that man. If he beats him, now we still continue to think that he’s in the championship picture.”

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