Highlights
- Colby Covington criticizes Khamzat Chimaev, stating that he is unprofessional and cannot be trusted by the UFC.
- Covington expresses frustration over his absence from action and blames Chimaev's inconsistency in making weight for hindering their fight.
- Covington confidently claims an easy victory in his fight against Jorge Masvidal and believes he defeated Kamaru Usman in their previous title bout.
Covington explained his long absence from the octagon as he is set to face Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 296 in Las Vegas next Saturday. The contentious UFC star has recently criticized his former adversary Jorge Masvidal and asserted that the UFC cannot trust Khamzat Chimaev.
Covington emerged victorious against Masvidal last year, and following his victory an alleged altercation between the pair occurred in a Miami restaurant where 'Gamebred' reportedly attacked him. This incident led to Masvidal pleading no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge, initially facing two felonies.
Leon Edwards Wants Historic Fight After Colby Covington Clash At UFC 296
Leon Edwards wants to become a double champion after Colby Covington fight at UFC 296.Colby Covington Claims Khamzat Chimaev Embarrassed The UFC Over Failed Fight
‘Chaos’ Explains Why His Fight With Khamzat Never Happened
In an interview with ESPN's Brett Okamoto, Colby Covington expressed frustration over his nearly two-year absence from action. Covington revealed that he immediately sought another fight after his bout with Jorge in March, aiming for a June or July return. However, plans for a significant showdown with Khamzat Chimaev were hindered by Chimaev's inconsistency in making the welterweight limit, according to Covington.
"They were looking at setting up that fight with that motherf***** Khamzat Chimaev, but he's unprofessional, he's a clown," Covington said. He criticized Chimaev for his lack of professionalism, citing instances where he missed weight and laughed about it publicly, disrupting UFC's main event pay-per-view. Covington emphasized that Chimaev is not someone the UFC can trust in the spotlight due to his lack of accountability.
Chimaev's recent unanimous decision victory over former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman had initially positioned him for a title opportunity. However, Dricus Du Plessis is set to face Sean Strickland for the middleweight title, likely due to the fact he was in line for the title shot against Adesanya before pulling out with an injury.
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One of the most controversial fighters in the world, there's a lot that MMA fans should know about Colby Covington.Covington Slams Jorge Masvidal, Claims He Defeated Kamaru Usman
The UFC Star Reveals His Feud With Masvidal Is Not Over
The intense rivalry between Covington and Masvidal continues, and the UFC title contender didn't hold back in his assessment of their past fight. Speaking to ESPN, he stated, "It was an easy fight, five rounds of domination, 50-43 and a soda. Been big brothering that guy my whole life. He’s never won a second of any round off me, so just another dominating performance."
Covington went on to assert that he believes he defeated Usman in their last title bout in November 2021. Despite the judges not scoring the fight in his favor, he emphasized that he felt like the true champion and won the last three rounds of their title fight.
