Colby Covington is eyeing a return to the welterweight division, and he’s not short on potential opponents! ‘Chaos’ faced defeat in his fight against Leon Edwards at UFC 296. And while fans and experts had criticized his performance, he recently revealed that he had suffered an injury to his foot at the beginning of the fight which hindered his ability to implement his game plan against ‘Rocky’!
Covington was also targeted by Ian Garry, a rising contender in the welterweight division. And in a recent interview, he responded to Garry’s claims about putting Covington on his “hit list”. But it’s not just Garry who was in Covington’s crosshairs as he also put other UFC fighters on notice for his return to competition!
Colby Covington responds to Ian Garry and takes jabs at ‘future’ opponents
In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Covington was asked about Ian Garry putting him on his hit list for 2024 and he responded with his characteristic confidence. He stated,
“If he can get through the bus boy and UFC deems that to be the biggest and best business the UFC can do in the welterweight division, then let’s do it.”
The ‘bus boy’ comment may be a jab at Geoff Neal, Garry’s scheduled opponent for his next clash. ‘Chaos’ also emphasized that he, representing ‘Colby Chaos Covington Incorporated’, has never turned down a fight! Covington then delved into the array of options available, mentioning Gilbert Burns as a potential opponent.
He revealed, “There’s a lot of options boy, we got Gilbert coming up…” and he also referred to Conor McGregor by stating, “Conor said he’s coming up in March if he beats that other kid that he’s fighting, whatever the scrub’s name is, that’s a possibility.”
In essence, Covington’s comments highlight his eagerness to return to the Octagon and face any challenges that come his way. The playful jabs at potential opponents and the acknowledgment of the diverse options reflect the dynamic nature of the welterweight division, setting the stage for intriguing matchups for him in the future.
However, another UFC welterweight has revealed that Colby Covington needs to accept a fight against a rising contender or the UFC should consider axing him from the promotion!
Colby Covington handed a harsh reality check
Geoff Neal, the No.8-ranked UFC welterweight contender, has expressed a desire to witness a potential matchup between Colby Covington and rising star Shavkat Rakhmonov! In a recent interview with ‘Fanatics View’, Neal praised Rakhmonov’s talent and emphasized the need for Covington to accept the fight if it materializes. He stated,
“Yeah he’s [Rakhmonov] talented, I actually just seen a post, they’re trying to match him up with Colby,”
Neal also asserted the need for Covington to face an up-and-coming talent like Rakhmonov because “f**k, like, he needs to fight an up-and-comer, if he doesn’t take that fight then get him out of the f***ing UFC.”
He emphasized that if Covington declines the fight, it could be detrimental to the UFC’s welterweight division, causing a bottleneck at the top and may be grounds for his removal from the promotion! In essence, Neal’s comments not only reflect his anticipation for an exciting showdown but also underline the broader issue of delays and hesitations that can hinder the natural flow and progression of the welterweight division.
The statement adds a layer of urgency and expectation to the speculation for Covington’s next fight, aligning with the sentiments of fans who want to see the division’s top fighters engaging in meaningful contests without unnecessary delays!
