Outside Source
Colby Covington’s next fight will be a critical one.
It’s safe to say that UFC 296’s main event didn’t quite go the way anyone expected earlier this month. After nearly the full year of build-up, Covington returned to action for an arguably undeserved third-career undisputed UFC welterweight title shot. Unfortunately for “Chaos,” the third time wasn’t the charm as he was soundly stifled in an uncharacteristic performance as the champion Leon Edwards cruised to a 49-46 unanimous decision victory across the board.
UFC 296 was a fight week full of characters with the 170-pound weight class taking up most of the spotlight. As the week began, rising undefeated 13-0 contender Ian Machado Garry had become one of the hottest topics in the sport for a variety of reasons both in and out of the cage. Throughout the weeks leading up, the vocally fearless Covington took his shots at just about any fellow fighter he was asked about, including Garry’s personal life. Garry fell under fire from the community — and the UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland — after a decade-old book published by his wife Layla Anna-Lee titled How to be a WAG surfaced online. Anna-Lee has since come out and claimed the book was a parody and not to be taken seriously.
For Covington, he couldn’t help but pile on whenever asked about the 26-year-old.
“It’s funny because all the people that have taken [trash talk] personal in the past, during the time, after their checks clear their banks they realize, ‘Hey, man. I actually appreciate everything you did, Colby,’” Covington told Tucker Carlson. “‘You made me a lot more money otherwise if you would’ve just been quiet and acted like a mute. But the fact that you were vocal and you made it more animosity-filled for the fight, that made me more money in the long run. So, thank you, Colby.’
“There’s one guy that’s a legitimate cuck and I’ve called him out for that. I just said the truth, I said, ‘That’s disgusting, you’re a cuck and your wife is a vile lady.’ She’s selling books promoting being a ‘WAG,’ being a wife and a girlfriend. I’m not gonna let the world not notice that. I’m gonna bring it to the forefront and make sure everyone’s talking about it and make it a joke for you.”
Ultimately, Garry didn’t end up fighting at UFC 296 in his scheduled clash with Vicente Luque after he fell ill with pneumonia during the Las Vegas fight week. “The Future” has since had a previously canceled matchup with Geoff Neal now rebooked to take place at UFC 298 in February.
Immediately after his loss to Edwards, Covington targeted his fellow veteran welterweight contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson as the top option for his next opponent. However, should the possibility line up to get his hands on Garry, Covington is all for it.
“He was pretty angry. I think he probably wants to settle the differences in the octagon,” Covington said. “It just so happens I like to fight in the octagon so if it needs to happen one day, I’d be honored to settle that.
“It’s just someone that’s been talking smack in the media, been throwing some terms around at me, and never done anything or accomplished half of what I’ve accomplished in the sport so I had to give it back to him and just say the truth. It did shut him up, but I have a strong feeling he’ll have something else to say very soon.”
Assessment. Daniel Cormier: Dricus Du Plessis’ people believe Sean Strickland is ‘an afterthought,’ fight won’t be competitive
Awards. MMA Fighting’s 2023 Submission of the Year: Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko
Planning. Dana White expects to ‘get something figured out soon’ with Conor McGregor
Critique. Colby Covington fires back at Paddy Pimblett: ‘He’ll never be a top-30 fighter’
Progress. Oktagon MMA to employ open scoring for fights starting with upcoming event
Contention. Deiveson Figueiredo: Sean O’Malley ‘has something to worry about now’
MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin chats with Paige VanZant.
BROADENED HORIZIN.
UFC Honors: UFC Event of 2023 nominees.
UFC 296 Slo-Mo.
Year of the Fighter: The Great and a Thug.
Best PFL rounds of 2023.
Zombie Trip 3.
Between the Links. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Jed Meshew bring you the 2023 Promotional Festivus: Grading the best and worst from UFC, PFL, more.
Ready.
Sports clash.
Signing.
Undefeated Russian Murad Ramazanov — 11-0 with one no contest including 3 wins in ONE Championship — has signed to join the roster at the PFL, per his manager @AliAbdelaziz00
Ramazanov has competed at both welterweight and middleweight in the past. @PFLMMA
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) December 28, 2023
Funk.
Boxing.
Team.
History.
He knows a thing or two.
This guy.
Response?
I’d respond to @ColbyCovMMA but I’m fearful of his ambulance chancing, cut-rate attorney…I have enough on my plate….I don’t need a bogus defamation suit based on my accurate tweets. Fighters don’t sue fighters for fighting. How’s your “brain damage” kid?
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) December 29, 2023
I heard there was a meeting in Abu Dhabi or Dubai tonight…hopefully Dana can convince @TheNotoriousMMA to be a man of his word…but we all make claims we can’t back up at times…it’s human nature…I don’t fault him for it.
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) December 29, 2023
Covington feels kind of like the perfect gatekeeper-type of test at this point so the Garry matchup isn’t all too bad should Garry beat Neal.
Happy Friday and Happy New Year, everyone. Here’s to 2024 being better than the last. Have a great but safe weekend. Thanks for reading!
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This article first appeared at MMA Fighting – All Posts
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