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Tag: Colby Covington

  • Paddy Pimblett Reacts To Backstage Colby Covington Confrontation At UFC 314

    Paddy Pimblett Reacts To Backstage Colby Covington Confrontation At UFC 314

    A feud is developing between UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett and welterweight Colby Covington.

    Following his co-main event victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in Miami, Pimblett was unexpectedly confronted by Covington.

    Covington criticized the caliber of Pimblett’s opponents, while Pimblett retorted by highlighting Covington’s recent losing streak.

    Pimblett later detailed the exchange on ESPN’s post-event show, referring to Covington as a “little maggot” who “only does something when there’s a camera about.”

    Paddy Pimblett recounted a prior interaction at Power Slap where Covington allegedly avoided eye contact. In their latest meeting, Pimblett stated he told Covington, “‘Lad, I’ll come and slap you, but you’ll go and ring the police on me like you did with Masvidal, you little grass [snitch].’”

    This alludes to Covington’s past altercation with Jorge Masvidal, who attacked him outside a restaurant, leading to Masvidal’s arrest and a misdemeanor battery plea.

    Pimblett is firmly focused on a lightweight title opportunity and dismissed Covington during his post-fight press conference.

    “He can eat sh*t. He pays supermodels to stand with him, the f*cking bum. He’s a nobody. He’s on a three-fight losing streak or something, he’s irrelevant. He’s trying to use me now to stay relevant because he’s a nobody, he’s a bum. I’d beat Colby Covington for a laugh, but I’ve got bigger fish to fry than that little mushroom.”

  • Colby Covington Hits Back At Comments From ‘Self-Loathing Drunk A**hole’ Paul Felder

    Colby Covington Hits Back At Comments From ‘Self-Loathing Drunk A**hole’ Paul Felder

    The back and forth between Colby Covington and Paul Felder continues. 

    Covington, known for his polarizing “heel” persona and vocal support of Donald Trump, has significantly boosted his notoriety within the UFC by openly antagonizing fellow fighters. However, Felder has observed a recent shift in Covington’s behavior. 

    He noted a more amicable demeanor in his organic interactions, evidenced by Covington’s cordial greeting to former rival Kamaru Usman and Paddy Pimblett’s account of a surprisingly positive encounter. Felder thinks Covington isn’t who he portrays.

    For Covington, he thinks Felder is a “bum” and a punching bag for the UFC. 

    “The guy’s an absolute bum,” Covington stated on Submission Radio. “He’s never done anything in the sport. He has no reason to talk shit, especially when he’s never been in a main event in his life. The guy’s a bum. He’s gotten beaten up by everybody. He’s literally been a punching bag in the UFC and he’s a self-loathing drunk asshole.”

    Covington’s most recent fight occurred at a UFC Fight Night in Tampa, Florida, last December, where he faced Joaquin Buckley. The bout ended in the third round when the ringside physician stopped the fight due to a significant cut over Covington’s eye, awarding Buckley a TKO victory.

  • Colby Covington: Leon Edwards Has ‘Made Too Much Money’, Should Retire After UFC London

    Colby Covington: Leon Edwards Has ‘Made Too Much Money’, Should Retire After UFC London

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington has reacted to his former opponent Leon Edwards’ second straight defeat.

    Edwards fell short in his first fight since losing the 170-pound title last July. Like against Belal Muhammad, “Rocky” had his grappling deficiencies exposed by Sean Brady in the UFC London main event.

    With that, the Jamaica-born Brit is now without a win since he recorded a successful title defense against Colby Covington in December 2023. And the last man to be beaten by Edwards is seemingly expecting that to remain the case.

    During his latest appearance on Submission Radio, “Chaos” claimed to have known what was ahead for the former champ in their fight.

    And believing that Edwards’ hunger has dissipated, he suggested retirement for the 33-year-old.

    “I thought that after I fought Leon, the motivation wasn’t there anymore,” Covington said. “I can tell in the fight, I broke my foot immediately and he did nothing. 
 I can 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,” Covington added. “So I just don’t think he’s motivated anymore and he should hang them up.”

  • VIDEO: Colby Covington Sees Former Teammate At UFC PI, Runs Away

    VIDEO: Colby Covington Sees Former Teammate At UFC PI, Runs Away

    UFC welterweight Colby Covington almost had a run-in with an ex-training partner at the UFC Performance Institute this week.

    Covington, a polarizing figure in mixed martial arts, isn’t short on enemies amassed throughout his career. From American Top Team fighters like Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal to former opponents in Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards, “Chaos” has his fair share of detractors in the sport.

    With that in mind, being in places swarming with fighters like the UFC PI no doubt always runs the risk of the 37-year-old bumping into a hostile face. And that’s exactly what happened during a recent Twitch stream on Covington’s channel.

    Footage was spread on social media showing “Chaos” turning a corner into a training area before glancing back at his cameraman. After a concerned look, the former interim titleholder quickly bolted and headed elsewhere.

    His swift exit was due to the presence of Themba Gorimbo, a former training partner of his at MMA Masters.

    Gorimbo, who also competes in the UFC welterweight division, previously sung the praises of Covington. While teammates in Florida, “The Answer” lauded his peer for helping him during a time of need during his early days in the promotion.

    Coincidentally, Gorimbo puts their falling out down to an incident at the UFC PI. He accused Covington of ‘kicking’ him out while he was using a treadmill so that he could cut weight without company for his UFC 296 title fight.

    The Zimbabwean subsequently left MMA Masters and switched to Xtreme Couture.

  • UFC Veteran Who Became First To Beat Colby Covington Parts Ways With The Promotion

    UFC Veteran Who Became First To Beat Colby Covington Parts Ways With The Promotion

    Warlley Alves, the first man to defeat Colby Covington in professional mixed martial arts, has left the UFC after a decade under its banner.

    Alves joined the UFC as an undefeated athlete, winning The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 in 2014. He went on to compete 16 times inside the Octagon, emerging victorious from eight of those fights.

    By far the most prominent name on his record’s win column is Covington. The 34-year-old submitted “Chaos” at UFC 194 in 2015, ending the then-future interim welterweight champion’s undefeated run in the sport.

    While that result left Alves with a perfect 4-0 UFC record, he struggled with consistency across his remaining years in the UFC.

    And his stint on MMA’s biggest stage ends off the back of four straight losses, the most recent of which came via decision at the hands of Abusupiyan Magomedov inside the Apex last May.

    The Brazilian’s UFC departure was first reported by MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz. It remains to be seen what comes next in MMA for Alves, who is a free agent after a decade-long tenure with the sport’s leading promotion.

  • VIDEO: Former Rivals Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman Have Awkward Encounter At UFC Vegas 102

    VIDEO: Former Rivals Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman Have Awkward Encounter At UFC Vegas 102

    Colby Covington didn’t seem to get the response he was after when bumping into former bitter rival Kamaru Usman at Saturday’s UFC event at the Apex.

    The polarizing former interim welterweight champion was in attendance this weekend as the mixed martial arts leader staged its latest UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas.

    As has often been the case in recent weeks and months, “Chaos” was streaming live on his Twitch account. And while speaking to his followers, Covington crossed paths with one of the night’s ESPN desk analysts, whom it’s fair to say he’s more than familiar with.

    But while his and Usman’s feud is far from as heated as it was when they shared the Octagon twice a number of years ago, Covington’s attempt to initiate a conversation looked to be brushed off by the former undisputed champ.

    “Yes, that was Usman guys,” Covington said after the awkward interaction. “I don’t think he wanted to talk on the stream ’cause he didn’t want the chat to hear what he had to say. But yeah, we’ll definitely chop it up a little bit. Maybe we’ll get a picture, or maybe we’ll just fight. You never know, when ‘Chaos’ is in the building, it’s unpredictable. … No hard feelings.”

    Two of Covington’s three failed attempts at reaching the welterweight throne came opposite Usman at UFC 245 in 2019 and UFC 268 in 2021. While he was stopped in the fifth frame first time around, “Chaos” was unable to outpoint the then-champ in the rematch two years later.

    Since then, the 36-year-old has gone 1-2, defeating Jorge Masvidal but losing emphatically to both Leon Edwards and Joaquin Buckley. His future is uncertain in 2025 following his setback at the hands of “New Mansa” last December.

  • Colby Covington Joins Chael Sonnen’s Coaching Team For TUF Series vs. Daniel Cormier

    Colby Covington Joins Chael Sonnen’s Coaching Team For TUF Series vs. Daniel Cormier

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington will be returning the favor after having Chael Sonnen in his corner late last year in Tampa.

    During the UFC 311 pay-per-view broadcast last month, the promotion announced the coaching lineup for its upcoming 33rd edition of The Ultimate Fighter reality series.

    While the show traditionally pitches active fighters against each other as they coach teams before doing battle themselves inside the cage, this year will see two former competitors and current podcast co-hosts lead the rosters.

    Ex-title challenger Sonnen and former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier will take a break from discussing the world of MMA on ESPN’s Good Guy/Bad Guy show to go head-to-head as TUF coaches.

    And in a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Sonnen became the first to divulge which prominent names he’s adding to his coaching team for the season, including Covington.

    “The head coach will be Clayton Hires,” Sonnen said. “Clayton Hires is my coach, he’s my mentor. He is not my assistant ever. He will be the boss. I will have on the jersey: ‘Clayton’s Team.’ It will consist of me, it will consist of ‘Cowboy’ Steve. He’s going to do what generally Mike Dolce would do in terms of helping these guys with their weight, their nutrition, their strength and conditioning.

    “I would never do an Ultimate Fighter (series) without bringing the greatest grappler, Vinny Magalhaes. The last man to beat Gordon Ryan I might add, and he beat Gordon easily. That’s just the truth,” Sonnen continued. “And Colby Covington. Colby is going to to come in.”

    Sonnen was notably in Covington’s corner for his unsuccessful UFC Fight Night main event opposite Joaquin Buckley last December. “Chaos” lost by way of doctor’s stoppage after sustaining damage that “The Bad Guy” admitted left him pondering throwing in the towel.

    Season 33 of TUF is set to air every Tuesday on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ from May 27, 2025.

  • Colby Covington Reiterates Ongoing UFC Ambitions, Plans To Do The ‘Unthinkable’

    Colby Covington Reiterates Ongoing UFC Ambitions, Plans To Do The ‘Unthinkable’

    Colby Covington remains confident that he will turn things around in his career with ambitions to become the UFC welterweight champion. The former interim champion has fought for the title on three occasions in the past, coming up short twice against Kamaru Usman and once against Leon Edwards.

    At 36-years old, he’s currently coming off of back-to-back defeats for the first time in his pro career after having his return in Tampa against Joaquin Buckley stopped via a doctor stoppage due to a cut above his eye. Covington has heavily protested the loss ever since by stating that it was the doctor who beat him on December 14 rather than his opponent.

    “Chaos” has not been deterred after falling to the #9-position in the welterweight rankings as he spoke about on a recent live stream on his Twitch channel. Covington is seemingly up against it for multiple reasons, one being his age and another being his lack of a win over a current top 15 contender.

    However, one thing that he believes is on his side is how he matches up with the current champion at 170-pounds. Covington said that he thinks he could beat Belal Muhammad due to the clash of styles and given his track record for selling fights and making a lot of noise, it may not take him too long to get to that position if he’s able to turn his fortunes around.

    “We’re going to do the unthinkable. We’re going to shock the world. DC (Cormier) was a champion at 41. I’m only 36 years young. No reason I can’t be champion.

    “Belal Muhammad, ‘Remember the Racist,’ I can easily beat him. He’s a good matchup. He’s not going to take me down. He’s not going to outwrestle me. F*ck that. I will smack that dude silly. I know no one knows who he is, but they’re going to know when he’s on my highlight reel after I’m done with him.”

  • Colby Covington: Arman Tsarukyan Has The Power To Knock Out Islam Makhachev At UFC 311

    Colby Covington: Arman Tsarukyan Has The Power To Knock Out Islam Makhachev At UFC 311

    A UFC lightweight championship bout between current kingpin Islam Makhachev and challengerArman Tsarukyan is set to headline UFC 311. The pay-per-view event will take place on Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    While Tsarukyan enters the fight as the underdog, former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington believes an upset is possible. “Chaos” noted that if Tsarukyan can keep the fight on the feet, he has a realistic shot at dethroning the reigning champion.

    Tsarukyan trains at American Top Team, Covington’s former gym, which is now preparing for its second consecutive lightweight title fight. “Chaos” expressed confidence in the challenger during an interview with Submission Radio.

    “I do think he can get it done. I think he’s an athlete. Look how flexible he is. Look how he got out of that choke with Charles (Oliveira). That was impressive. He dug deep for that, and you know he’s got a better coach. He’s got a great coach. I believe in Arman. He’s an athlete. He’s got big power in his hands. If he believes in his hands, I think he can knock out Makhachev.”

    This fight marks a rematch between Makhachev and Tsarukyan. They first faced off in April 2019 at a UFC Fight Night event in Moscow, where Makhachev secured a unanimous decision victory.

  • Colby Covington On How ‘Easy’ Michael Chandler Fight Would Go: ‘Definitely Done Some Steroids…’

    Colby Covington On How ‘Easy’ Michael Chandler Fight Would Go: ‘Definitely Done Some Steroids…’

    Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington likes his chances in a potential clash with Michael Chandler.

    Sine the start of 2023, Chandler has had his sights firmly set on being the opposition for Conor McGregor’s comeback fight. And that appears to still be the case despite close to two years passing by.

    In the meantime, the ex-Bellator titleholder faced and lost to Charles Oliveira last November, pushing him to a 2-4 record inside the Octagon. Nevertheless, his entertaining style looks to have kept the McGregor fight on the table.

    But like last year, Chandler isn’t without backup options.

    Last month, the veteran lightweight contender suggested he’d be open to doing battle with Covington up at welterweight. The comments came shortly before “Chaos” suffered a brutal loss at the hands of Joaquin Buckley in Tampa.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Covington looked ahead to what 2025 could have in store for him following two straight defeats. He noted Chandler’s interest in a fight, sharing the same sentiment while slipping in a steroid allegation for good measure.

    “I don’t blame Michael for wanting the next biggest fight he could possibly get. That’s me,” Covington said. “So, he loves to get beat up. He loves to get his face smacked, and if that’s the fight the UFC wants, then I love that fight. … I hope it comes to fruition. But, I don’t know. I think he’s all talk, I don’t think he’s any walk.

    “I see myself overpowering him. He’s definitely done some steroids to bulk up, so ’70 looks like a weight class he could fit into. … He’s like a (Islam) Makhachev. These guys are weight bullies. … There’s no reason he shouldn’t come up to 170,” Covington continued. “How I see the fight going, it’s a very easy fight. I see me breaking his will. If it’s five rounds, for sure he’s not hanging out. … I just see him quitting, him breaking, like in the Dustin (Poirier) fight. … It would be a catastrophe for him.”

    With the result on Dec. 14, Covington is now 2-4 across his last six fights and 0-4 against those currently ranked inside the welterweight top 15.

  • Colby Covington Pondering Middleweight Move To Face ‘Cardio Kickboxer’ Sean Strickland

    Colby Covington Pondering Middleweight Move To Face ‘Cardio Kickboxer’ Sean Strickland

    Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington is pondering a career change following his latest setback.

    Covington made his first appearance of 2024 in the year’s final fight, headlining the UFC event in Tampa, Florida on Dec. 14 opposite the fast-charging Joaquin Buckley.

    While “Chaos” had hoped to bounce back from his third failed attempt at achieving undisputed kingpin status at 170 pounds, he was unable to blemish Buckley’s still-perfect record in the division since he made the move down from middleweight.

    And weeks on from that result, Covington is now pondering going the other way.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Covington once again shut down the idea of cutting weight to compete in the lightweight class. Instead, he suggested that a move up to 185 pounds could be on the cards, especially given his view on the likes of former middleweight champ Sean Strickland.

    “Colby realized that he doesn’t want to kill himself. He doesn’t want to be a weight bully. You know Islam (Makhachev), these guys at lightweight, the Khabibs of the world, they’re little lightweight bullies,” Covington said. “They just have such a weight advantage of 30-40 pounds, but it’s just not healthy. … I don’t see myself ever trying to go to (155 pounds), even though I know I could make it and I’d probably be way stronger. … But (185 pounds) honestly is intriguing.

    “I mean the Sean Strickland fight’s always interesting. He’s had his things to say about me in the past. I don’t think he’s any special,” Covington continued. “He’s got a jab, he’s got a front kick, but besides that, you shut down those weapons down and he’s very limited. He’s just a cardio kickboxer essentially, so you know, I don’t see any threats.”

    Strickland and Covington have gone back and forth numerous times in the past, with the former notably scathing “Chaos” back in 2022 and branding him a “Karen” for how he reacted to an altercation with FabrĂ­cio Werdum.

    For now, “Tarzan” has his sights on regaining the middleweight crown from Dricus Du Plessis in their rematch next month. The pair are set to run it back in the main event of UFC 312 in Australia on Feb. 8.

  • Chael Sonnen Reveals Colby Covington Walkout Idea That Hulk Hogan Deemed ‘Too Far’

    Chael Sonnen Reveals Colby Covington Walkout Idea That Hulk Hogan Deemed ‘Too Far’

    Colby Covington’s return to the Octagon in Tampa at the final event of 2024 didn’t go to plan. “Chaos” was defeated by Joaquin Buckley in convincing fashion and though he struggled to make an impact inside the cage, what he did on route to the middle of the Amalie Arena did stick with a lot of fans.

    One of the most memorable walk-outs of the previous year was the very last one to take place in the UFC as Covington entered the building flanked by Chael Sonnen and Hulk Hogan of all people. Sonnen’s presence was already known about following his appearance at the weigh-ins but it’s safe to say that people didn’t expect to see “The Hulkster” walking down to the Octagon.

    All in all, this was mostly just a surprising image and a shock reaction, even if Sonnen has claimed that he was close to throwing in the towel due to Covington’s cut which certainly would have generated some talking points. “The Bad Guy” did recently reveal that Covington’s original plan for the walk-out was changed before they went through the curtain.

    The WWE icon may have accompanied Covington to the cage but he wasn’t quite willing to let “Hulkamania” run completely wild in the UFC. Instead, he wanted to take a step back in order to be the red corner’s wingman rather than the focal point.

    “It was a cool thing, it was Hulk Hogan… Very first thing Colby says to him, ‘When the camera hits, Hulk, I wanted you with the American flag…I come out behind you’. And Hulk cut him off and said, ‘Colby, too far. I am a guest in your house. You go first, I’m at your back… I won’t have it any other way.’ And that was his attitude right from the beginning and he was more than welcome in that locker room.”

  • Colby Covington: Joaquin Buckley Got Me At 30% Percent & I Still Should Have Beat Him On No Notice

    Colby Covington: Joaquin Buckley Got Me At 30% Percent & I Still Should Have Beat Him On No Notice

    Joaquin Buckley delivered a commanding performance against Colby Covington in the UFC Tampa main event last month.

    However, the fight ended on an anticlimactic note when the ringside physician halted the contest due to a gruesome cut on Covington’s face. The injury, which worsened as the fight progressed, raised concerns about potential damage to Covington’s eyelid, prompting the doctor to stop the bout in the third round.

    Reflecting on the fight in a YouTube video titled My Honest Reaction to UFC Fight Night in Tampa, Covington shared his perspective, emphasizing that he felt the fight was competitive and that he wasn’t outclassed.

    “There was a little cut that happened,” Covington said. “I rewatched the film, it was like minute two, it was like a headbutt … It wasn’t from a punch. So, you know, that’s the only thing that really limited my potential to be at 100% was the fact that I had blood draining in my eye. I couldn’t see. I’m seeing three, four different people. It’s hard to keep fighting through that, but that’s what I signed up for. I’m a gladiator. This is what I love to do.”

    Covington elaborated on his resilience during adversity.

    “In moments like that, I show my real character — to push through and rise up stronger. So it’s unfortunate that the DEI doctor stopped the fight early. I feel like the fight was just getting started, and there was a lot more that needed to be settled in there.”

    He also highlighted his short preparation time for the fight.

    “I showed up for the company on two and a half weeks’ notice,” he explained. “I wasn’t even training. Didn’t have any training partners, didn’t get a proper training camp like this guy. He was in training camp for twelve weeks. He was preparing for the best version of someone. I’m coming off the couch. This guy got me at 30%, and I still should have beat him on no notice.”

  • Colby Covington Opens Up About Chael Sonnen’s Near Towel Throw At UFC Tampa

    Colby Covington Opens Up About Chael Sonnen’s Near Towel Throw At UFC Tampa

    Colby Covington fully acknowledges the gravity of Chael Sonnen’s revelation that he was moments away from throwing in the towel during UFC Tampa.

    Earlier this month, Covington stepped into the Octagon against Joaquin Buckley in the main event of the final UFC Fight Night of 2024. From the opening bell to the fight’s dramatic conclusion, “Chaos” found himself overwhelmed by Buckley’s relentless onslaught, resulting in a TKO (doctor stoppage) defeat.

    “New Mansa” unleashed brutal combinations that left Covington struggling to keep up. A vicious uppercut in the first round opened a deep gash above the former UFC interim welterweight champion’s eye, causing a torrent of blood that worsened with every subsequent strike.

    By the third round, referee Dan Miragliotta was compelled to halt the action, calling the Octagon-side doctor to assess the gruesome gash above Covington’s eye. After a brief evaluation, the doctor advised Miragliotta to stop the fight, deeming the injury too severe to continue.

    After the fight, Sonnen, who served as Covington’s cornerman, shared on his YouTube channel that, in light of the injury’s nature, he was prepared to throw in the towel himself — if the doctor or referee didn’t take action first.

    During a recent Twitch stream, “Chaos” reflected on Sonnen’s decision and expressed that he harbors no ill will toward his mentor. The 36-year-old Californian admitted that, while the moment was tough to swallow, he recognizes it as a well-judged call given the circumstances, no matter how challenging it may have been.

    “Chael cares about me. He’s a real one,” Covington said. “If he was throwing it in, it’s because he knows that I couldn’t see. He knows that where the cut was at, it was bleeding into my right eye and I couldn’t see. I was seeing three of four different people.

    “He knew that I couldn’t see. So if he’s going to do it, it’s because he cares about me and he knows that I couldn’t see and that was going to be tough to overcome. I thought I was coming on stronger, and I feel like they were going to have to throw in the towel for Buckley by the end of round five. So it sucks, it’s unfortunate.”

    Covington is currently navigating the most difficult stretch of his career, having posted a 2-4 record in his last six UFC bouts, which includes three defeats in high-stakes title fights.

  • Gilbert Burns Targets Colby Covington For UFC Event In Miami: ‘I Know You Not Showing Up!’

    Gilbert Burns Targets Colby Covington For UFC Event In Miami: ‘I Know You Not Showing Up!’

    Gilbert Burns and Colby Covington have yet to share the Octagon, but their paths may soon cross following a week of online exchanges fueled by a prank.

    The drama began when Burns publicly tweeted UFC Tampa cornerman Chael Sonnen’s phone number. The move was a response to the UFC legend spreading a rumor that the Brazilian had retired from MMA. While “Durinho” and Sonnen appear to have resolved their differences, the stunt didn’t sit well with Covington.

    In defense of the former fighter, Covington issued a challenge to Burns, proposing a fight in his honor. The one-time title challenger quickly accepted the idea and suggested Miami as the venue, expressing interest in an April showdown.

    “Just [sign] the contract,” Burns wrote. “I know you not showing up.”

    Both fighters are looking to bounce back in their careers.

    Burns is on a three-fight losing streak, while Covington has dropped his last two bouts. Interestingly, both athletes’ most recent victories came against Jorge Masvidal — in March 2022 for “Chaos” and April 2023 for “Durinho.”

  • Colby Covington Responds To Jon Jones Mocking His Latest UFC Loss: ‘He’s Cheated His Whole Career’

    Colby Covington Responds To Jon Jones Mocking His Latest UFC Loss: ‘He’s Cheated His Whole Career’

    The former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington made his return to the Octagon this past weekend in Tampa where he suffered his second consecutive loss. “Chaos” was stopped in the third round after the doctor waved off his fight with Joaquin Buckley due to a cut above his right eye that he suffered early on in the fight.

    Covington has since disputed the loss despite Buckley producing an impressive performance to end 2024 going 4-0 in the welterweight division. Given his history of being extremely critical of other fighters, it’s not surprising that there were members of the UFC roster that were happy to see him suffer another defeat inside the Octagon.

    One of those fighters is the UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones who Covington has a long history with “Bones” expressed his enjoyment on social media via the following post.

    During a recent Twitch stream, Covington responded to Jones’ comments on X where he hit back at the champion by attacking him with many of the criticism that he has voiced in the past. The #9-ranked welterweight made reference to Jones’ controversial past and some of the issues that he has faced both in and out of the Octagon.

    “Yeah, of course he’s talking about me. He wishes he looked like me. He wishes he had these kinds of looks and was this beautiful and had this much respect. He has no respect. He lost all his respect when he started doing drugs and hitting pregnant ladies. There’s nothing to respect about Jon, he’s cheating his whole career. He’s cheated on his wife, he’s cheating on his taxes so he’s a terrible person. Of course he’s talking about a saint and someone who’s a law abiding citizen like myself. You know, someone that stands for law and order. Someone that stands for the military, the troops, the Trumps. So f*** Jon Jones, he’s nothing.”

    In the same clip, Covington once again spoke about the doctor’s decision to stop his fight with Buckley in the third round, claiming that it was a “cheat job” and a “fake stoppage”.

  • Colby Covington Motivated To ‘Prove People Wrong’ After ‘Cheat Job’ vs. Joaquin Buckley

    Colby Covington Motivated To ‘Prove People Wrong’ After ‘Cheat Job’ vs. Joaquin Buckley

    Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington insists he is far from finished.

    Covington’s hopes of a fourth crack at securing the undisputed crown at 170 pounds suffered a big blow this past weekend in Tampa, where he headlined the year-ending UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena opposite Joaquin Buckley.

    The charging “New Mansa” entered the contest riding momentum from three straight wins earlier in the year, and he remained unbeaten at welterweight at Covington’s expense on Dec. 14.

    After dominating through two rounds, Buckley had his hand raised in the third frame when a cut above Covington’s right eye was deemed too severe for him to continue. “Chaos” unsurprisingly used the doctor’s stoppage as a means to peddle his usual excuses post-fight.

    And that continued during a recent Twitch stream, during which the 36-year-old dismissed any suggestions that he is done in the sport and expressed excitement at the possibility of proving his detractors wrong in 2025.

    “I’m motivated, man. I want to prove people wrong,” Covington said. “Dude, that was a bullsh*t stoppage, let’s be honest. I was still in the fight. I was getting takedowns. He was getting slower. None of his punches did any significant damage. … I feel like there was an eye poke or something…an inadvertent one. I couldn’t see, I was out of one eye.

    “I’m a warrior. That’s what I signed up for. I love this sh*t. Let me go out on my shield though,” Covington continued. “It was a bullsh*t stoppage. Fake stoppage. Another f*cking cheat job.”

    With the result last Saturday, “Chaos” is now 2-4 across his last six fights and 0-4 against those currently ranked inside the welterweight top 15.

  • UFC Veteran Says It’s ‘Clear’ Colby Covington Isn’t Elite: ‘Lived Off His Shtick More So Than His Performances’

    UFC Veteran Says It’s ‘Clear’ Colby Covington Isn’t Elite: ‘Lived Off His Shtick More So Than His Performances’

    One former fighter thinks Colby Covington’s time as an elite UFC welterweight might have been up even before this past weekend’s result.

    Covington had his pursuit of a fourth shot at the undisputed 170-pound crown stalled emphatically by Joaquin Buckley in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night main event at Tampa’s Amalie Arena.

    After a dominant opening two rounds for the rising “New Mansa,” a cut sustained early on by “Chaos” proved too severe for him to continue, with the cageside doctor advising referee Dan Miragliotta to wave off the fight in the third frame.

    The result has left Covington 2-4 across his last six, 0-4 opposite currently ranked welterweights, and down at #9 in the pecking order.

    Given his struggles, many have suggested the 36-year-old has declined and is no longer able to compete with the best the division has to offer.

    During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, UFC veteran Matt Brown questioned whether that might have already been the case prior to the year-ending event in Florida.

    “It’s hard to argue he’s really been elite for a while,” Brown said. “He hasn’t done anything elite for a long time. I’m not even sure if the door was already closed. I thought this was kind of his chance to show that he is still an elite welterweight, and he didn’t pass the test. I think that door might have already been closed is the only caveat to that. We’ll see.

    “I guess the question is whether he retires. It’s not even whether he’s an elite welterweight anymore. I think that answer’s pretty clear,” Brown continued. “Is he going to stick around? Is he going to keep fighting? Because he’s kind of lived off of his shtick more so than his performances, right?”

    Covington was quick to reject any talk of retirement post-fight. On the contrary, he claimed this is “just the beginning.”

    With that, it would appear that “Chaos” will be making the walk again in 2025. But after a defeat to a rising name like Buckley, his chances of returning to championship fights have no doubt slimmed significantly.

  • Colby Covington: The Doctor Beat Me At UFC Tampa, Not Joaquin Buckley

    Colby Covington: The Doctor Beat Me At UFC Tampa, Not Joaquin Buckley

    Colby Covington does not believe that he was beaten by the better man in the main event of the final UFC event of 2024 this past weekend. The former interim welterweight champion stepped in on several weeks notice to take on Joaquin Buckley at the Amalie Arena after Ian Machado Garry was moved into the co-main event of UFC 310.

    The fight ended in the third round after the doctor waved the fight off due to a cut above the right eye of Covington. “New Mansa” appeared to open up the cut with an uppercut early on in the fight which continued to get worse as Buckley dominated the contest.

    In between rounds, the doctor had even warned Covington ahead of time that if he didn’t do a better job or protecting the eye, she would be forced to stop the fight, claiming that he would lose the eyelid if he continued past the third round. The cut was significant but we have certainly seen fights continue with worse injuries and that sentiment was echoed by both Dana White and “Chaos” himself.

    Covington spoke in a behind the scenes video posted on his YouTube channel about the outcome of the fight and how badly he was impacted by the cut. Despite this, he still believes that it shouldn’t have been stopped and that in his opinion, the fight was starting to turn in his favor. At the time of the stoppage, all three judges had Buckley winning both of the first two rounds.

    “We came in close contact, and I felt like there was a headbutt, and as soon as it cut in the first round, I couldn’t see,” Covington said. “I had blurred vision, I was seeing three different people, I was like, ‘F**k, which one do I punch?’ I didn’t know what to do. I was kind of confused, but I knew I had to keep fighting. I had to give the UFC and the fans a show. That’s what they pay their hard-earned money to come for and I’m a warrior. We’re gladiators. I’m not going to stop.

    “I’ve had way worse in fights than a little cut over my eye, so it’s unfortunate that the doctor stopped the fight like that because if we’re in Vegas, I know the fight gets to keep going. I feel like I was really just starting to gain momentum. Like I was starting to wear him out, I could see him breathing out of his mouth. There wasn’t as much volume at that point, so I feel like it was going to be my fight in the championship rounds, so it was an unfortunate stop and I feel like the doctor is the one that beat me tonight. I didn’t feel like I lost to another opponent.”

  • UFC Rankings Report: Colby Covington On The Brink Of Top 10 Exit After Tampa Defeat

    UFC Rankings Report: Colby Covington On The Brink Of Top 10 Exit After Tampa Defeat

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Tampa, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: Miranda Maverick didn’t perform as she had hoped on Saturday night, but she still got the job done over Jamey-Lyn Horth and has returned to the UFC rankings as a result. She’s now at #15, with her entry pushing out Casey O’Neill entirely.

    Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

    Flyweight: Manel Kape was among the biggest winners to emerge from 2024’s final event, as he put on a show en route to stopping Bruno Silva with strikes in round three. “Starboy” has subsequently climbed three places to #6. The defeated Brazilian, meanwhile, has dropped one spot behind Charles Johnson (#12) to #13.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: The final UFC winner of this year was Joaquin Buckley, who dominated former interim champion Colby Covington to stake his claim for a title eliminator next time out. The victory has seen “New Mansa” surge three places up the ladder to #6. “Chaos” has gone the same distance the other way, leaving him at #9 and on the brink of exiting the division’s top 10.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Jon Jones ‘Amused’ By Watching Colby Covington ‘Fail Repeatedly’ After Latest UFC Loss

    Jon Jones ‘Amused’ By Watching Colby Covington ‘Fail Repeatedly’ After Latest UFC Loss

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has become the latest to express joy over Colby Covington’s recent setback inside the cage.

    After a third failed attempt at capturing the undisputed welterweight crown against Leon Edwards 12 months ago, Covington returned on short notice in pursuit of a key bounce-back victory.

    But while he hoped that would come at the expense of Joaquin Buckley, the polarizing former interim champ was soundly beaten at the year-ending UFC Fight Night in Tampa this past weekend.

    Though a doctor’s stoppage brought a close to proceedings in round three, many believed the writing was on the wall after “New Mansa” largely beat Covington up for the duration of the main event.

    Given his antics on the mic, “Chaos” isn’t short on enemies and detractors. And from those in the fanbase to current welterweight kingpin Belal Muhammad, plenty got a laugh out of Saturday’s headline result.

    The latest to do so is Jones, who shares a bitter beef with Covington, a former roommate of his at Central Iowa Community College.

    “Big shoutout to Colby Covington for skipping training to get President Trump ‘ready’—we all appreciate the sacrifice (clown emoji) At least he got to see me win,” Jones wrote on X.

    “Bones” later shared a laugh with a responding fan about the litany of excuses Covington often comes up with to explain his defeats.

    “That’s what I find the most hilarious, listening to what he’s gonna come up with next after getting his ass whooped”

    And Jones later pointed to his history with the veteran welterweight, who has frequently criticized the former light heavyweight titleholder.

    “I know I shouldn’t but it’s just so much fun. It’s amusing watching someone you know hate you fail repeatedly.”

    With the result at Tampa’s Amalie Arena, Covington is now 2-4 across his last six and 0-4 against names currently inside the welterweight top 15.

    It remains to be seen what comes next for the 36-year-old, but it’s safe to say his chances of a fourth crack at the undisputed belt have slimmed dramatically.

  • Colby Covington’s Losing Run Blamed On American Top Team Exit: ‘Since He Left…’

    Colby Covington’s Losing Run Blamed On American Top Team Exit: ‘Since He Left…’

    For the first time in his pro career, Colby Covington is currently coming off of back-to-back losses. The former UFC interim welterweight champion returned this past weekend in Tampa where he was beaten by the surging Joaquin Buckley.

    “Chaos” has already spoken about the defeat where he outlined the significance of taking the fight on short notice and the cut that he suffered above his right eye which eventually led to the doctor waving the fight off in the third round. Covington stated that he was only just getting going at the time of the stoppage but up until that point, “New Mansa” was clearly and comfortably winning the fight.

    Many fans and fellow fighters were also very critical about Covington’s previous outing at UFC 296 last December where he was totally shut out by Leon Edwards in a welterweight title fight. Having been 15-1 heading into his first meeting with Kamaru Usman in 2019 to now being 17-5, some may simply put his decline in form down to his age.

    At 36-years old, it’s not surprising that Covington would begin to slow down especially as a fighter whose biggest weapon is his cardio and output. Josh Thomson, however, believes that the controversial welterweight might not be preparing as well as he could be.

    Covington’s nine years at American Top Team in Florida ended in 2020 following several altercations with some of his teammates who had made it very clear that they no longer wanted him on the team due to some of his comments about them. The likes of Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier have remained at ATT whilst Covington has since moved to MMA Masters in Miami.

    Thomson, who is a former fighter turned commentator, said on the Weighing In Podcast that he believes this is taking away from the three-time title challenger.

    “I’m going to simply say that once you’ve trained at a prestigious gym like American Top Team [ATT], and then you find your way out of it, running your own camp in a smaller facility without many top-level people to train with, especially after leaving a gym with a plethora of world-class fighters
. it’s noticeable. You saw it tonight. I don’t know if it’s the age, because I know he’s older, but let’s be honest, within two fights, he doesn’t look like the same person since he left American Top Team.”

    Thomson believes that not having the kind of people that he needs to really push him has taken away what made Covington so effective in the first place. If he was going to beat Buckley on Saturday night, he needed to put the pace on him but if anything, it was the other way round.

    “Those are the rounds where you’re trying to catch your second, sometimes third, wind. But not having the talent that he needs to help push his pace in training is what I feel like I’m seeing right now. I’m seeing a fighter who is having a hard time setting a pace inside the cage against world-class fighters because he doesn’t have world-class fighters to train with anymore.”

  • Chael Sonnen Claims He Was Ready To Throw In The Towel While Cornering Colby Covington At UFC Tampa

    Chael Sonnen Claims He Was Ready To Throw In The Towel While Cornering Colby Covington At UFC Tampa

    If the doctor hadn’t have called off Colby Covington’s UFC Tampa main event this past weekend, cornerman Chael Sonnen was seemingly prepared to.

    Sonnen had a cageside view as the former interim welterweight champion returned to action 12 months on from his third failed attempt at capturing the undisputed crown.

    Covington made the walk to headline the year-ending UFC Fight Night on short notice, doing battle with the charging Joaquin Buckley inside Amalie Arena.

    The polarizing veteran’s pursuit of a fourth shot at the gold began in difficult fashion, with “New Mansa” opening up a deep cut above his eye early before largely beating “Chaos” up through two rounds. And the first-round wound became so severe that the doctor stepped in to call off proceedings.

    Both Dana White and Covington expressed disagreement with the call in the aftermath. One of those in the defeated fighter’s team, however, was apparently prepared to make the decision if the physician had not.

    During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reflected on fight night in Florida, where Covington fell to a 2-4 record across his last six bouts and 0-4 against names currently inside the rankings at 170 pounds.

    Interestingly, “The American Gangster” suggested he had the towel close by to throw in after seeing Covington’s struggles to fight through the deep and bloody cut.

    “Colby was getting hit on his feet with everything you could do, he’s busted open so bad that the doctor has to look at it three times,” Sonnen said (h/t Bloody Elbow). “Twice, he stops the action to let it keep going, the third time he goes, ‘Man we can’t keep going anymore.’ I was going to stop that fight, I already grabbed the towel.

    “When the doctor came in for the third time, and I’m watching that blood, it’s not stopping,” Sonnen continued. “It’s going into the eye, and that’s the only thing you’re really looking for. When we as fight fans, as ‘tough guys’, think the doctor should’ve stopped it, we’re talking about it doesn’t matter how bad the cut is from our perspective, as long as it’s not going in the eye. If it’s blinding the guy, it doesn’t matter if it’s a little or a lot
it’s the exact same thing. I said, ‘Hand me that towel, I’m stopping this.’”

    That ultimately wasn’t required, however, with the cageside doctor advising referee Dan Miragliotta to wave off the contest in fear of Covington losing his eyelid.

    With that, “Chaos” has now gone winless across a second straight calendar year, having not had his hand raised since a pay-per-view main event opposite longtime rival Jorge Masvidal in March 2022.

  • Colby Covington Issues First Comments On Brutal UFC Tampa Setback: ‘I Came Off The Couch!’

    Colby Covington Issues First Comments On Brutal UFC Tampa Setback: ‘I Came Off The Couch!’

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington was up to his usual antics when addressing his defeat this past weekend for the first time.

    Saturday’s event in Tampa didn’t go to plan for the former interim champion, who returned on short notice to headline the year-ending UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena.

    The bout came 12 months on from Covington’s third failed attempt at claiming the undisputed crown, and in order to return to winning ways, he was tasked with stalling the charge of Joaquin Buckley.

    Instead, “New Mansa” continued to climb the ladder toward gold at the polarizing veteran’s expense, beating him up across two rounds before a cut he caused with an elbow in the first frame proved too deep for “Chaos” to continue.

    While the ending was somewhat anticlimactic and saw Dana White suggest wouldn’t have happened had the fight been staged in Las Vegas, many believed the writing was already on the wall for Covington’s chances of victory.

    Unsurprisingly, the “many” does not include the man himself…

    During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Covington took fans behind the scenes before and after his headliner at Amalie Arena.

    “Chaos” spoke to the camera post-fight, giving his first comments on a result that has left him 2-4 across his last six and 0-4 against names currently inside the welterweight top 15.

    From the late-notice nature of the bout to the debated stoppage, “Chaos” had his usual litany of reasons to explain the loss ready.

    “We’re gonna be back stronger than ever, this is just the beginning for me,” Covington said. “I wasn’t at my best tonight. I came off the couch but it was for the company, I did this for the company that I love so much that changed my life. … I know there’s still a lot of fight in me and the best is still yet to come.

    “I was just getting warmed up in that fight, I think it was tied up 1-1 and I was starting to wear on him. I see him breathing out of his mouth, I was starting to catch him with more shots so it’s unfortunate that they stopped it,” Covington continued. “Even Dana (White) came out and said if that was in Vegas, it would’ve never been stopped. I took his hardest shots and they didn’t phase me at all. … We’ll come back stronger.”

    It remains to be seen what the future holds for the 36-year-old, but he’s evidently not planning on hanging up his gloves — as some had advised following a defeat that leaves him firmly out of the championship conversation.

    Buckley, meanwhile, looks set for even bigger things in 2025 after extending his perfect welterweight stint with a 4-0 run this year. Though he’s prepared to step in with gold on the line should Shavkat Rakhmonov fall out of his expected shot, “New Mansa” also set his sights on Kamaru Usman post-fight in Tampa.

  • Dana White On Colby Covington’s Defeat To Joaquin Buckley: ‘That Fight Doesn’t Get Stopped In Vegas’

    Dana White On Colby Covington’s Defeat To Joaquin Buckley: ‘That Fight Doesn’t Get Stopped In Vegas’

    Joaquin Buckley delivered a commanding performance against Colby Covington in the UFC Tampa main event. However, the fight concluded on a somewhat anticlimactic note when the ringside physician halted the contest due to a gruesome cut on Covington’s face.

    The injury, which worsened as the fight progressed, raised concerns about potential damage to the former interim welterweight champion’s eyelid, prompting the doctor to stop the fight in the third round.

    Dana White shared his thoughts on the stoppage during the post-fight press conference. While acknowledging Buckley’s dominant performance, the UFC CEO expressed disagreement with the decision to end the fight, suggesting the outcome might have been different under different circumstances.

    “No doubt that was a bad cut, but that fight doesn’t get stopped in Vegas,” White stated. “That fight keeps going in Vegas. 100 percent.

    “Listen, Colby’s an older guy who fights every once in a while. He’s always durable and tough. Did you hear the body shots he was taking tonight? And the head shots? Those would have stopped other guys. Colby’s tough, but I feel like he wasn’t too pissed about the stoppage. The cut was definitely bothering him.”

    White emphasized Covington’s resilience, noting that, despite the damage, “Chaos” remained competitive.

    “He’s obviously still one of the top-ranked guys. What we were saying about him all night — he took big shots and stayed in there. But I also believe if that fight’s in Vegas, that fight doesn’t get stopped with that cut. Still, I don’t think Colby was very upset when it did. The cut was bothering him.”

    While the fight’s ending sparked some debate, Buckley’s victory underscored his status as a rising force in the division, with a performance that left no doubt about his dominance.