Getty UFC's Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal
When UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov shockingly announced he was stuck in Russia on Monday without a way to cross the border to get to his UFC 249 main event battle against Tony Ferguson on Apr. 18, several of the other top athletes in the UFC began publically lobbying for the opportunity. But now it seems four of the best 170-pound UFC welterweights would also like to get in on the action.
Per MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin, both UFC champion Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal have indicated they’d be willing to climb inside the Octagon to face each other next month at UFC 249.
That same outlet suggests former champion Tyron Woodley and former interim champion Colby Covington would also like to compete against each other at UFC 249.
It’s not clear if both huge fights could be considered for UFC 249 now that Nurmagomedov’s fight against Ferguson is seemingly off. It’s also not clear whether Ferguson will continue to compete at UFC 249 against a different opponent.
Regardless, adding Usman-Masvidal or Woodley-Covington to UFC 249 next month would be a massive win for UFC president Dana White right now.
And somehow adding both amazing fights to the upcoming pay-per-view card that suddenly needs a main event?
On such short notice during the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic?
That would be a miracle.
Both Woodley and Covington Lobby for UFC 249 Gigs
Both Woodley and Covington have seemed interested in facing each other over recent months. In fact, when the COVID-19 outbreak sunk the UFC’s original plans for its UFC on ESPN+ 29 card in London on March 21, Covington lobbied hard for the chance to face Woodley in the event somewhere in the U.S. before the card was ultimately canceled.
Both are top-flight welterweights. Woodley was originally supposed to face Leon Edwards next but the UFC could just as easily tab Covington for the gig instead. After all, Covington is the No. 1 contender in the welterweight division. Woodley is ranked No. 2.
“The offer still stands @ufc,” Covington said on Twitter. “I’ll go full Teddy Roosevelt & beat the breaks off @TWooodley live from The @WhiteHouse lawn! Save sports and make it free on @ESPN for the people! Im in such a giving mood I’ll even arrange a tour of the oval office for Tyrone, since Obama never did.”
The offer still stands @ufc. I’ll go full Teddy Roosevelt & beat the breaks off @TWooodley live from The @WhiteHouse lawn! Save sports and make it free on @ESPN for the people! Im in such a giving mood I’ll even arrange a tour of the oval office for Tyrone, since Obama never did.
Woodley responded, “@ufc Me vs Qweefington April 18th unless Tony wanna roll back up to his Ultimate Fighter weight for the bag. WW bout won’t take no cheese out his LW macaroni.”
@ufc Me vs Qweefington April 18th unless Tony wanna roll back up to his Ultimate Fighter weight for the bag. WW bout won’t take no cheese out his LW macaroni.
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Masvidal and Usman Both Say They’re Down for UFC 249
Meanwhile, Masvidal and Usman were set for a summer showdown but that assumed headliner never materialized. Regardless, both Masvidal and Usman said Monday via social media that they were ready to accept the huge welterweight title fight for UFC 249.
Masvidal is the first-ever UFC “BMF” champ. Usman is the UFC welterweight champ. The two seemed on a collision course this year before the COVID-19 outbreak sidelined most of the upcoming sporting events across the globe.
Per MMA Fighting’s Daman Martin, both fighters “are saying they’d be down to fight on April 18.”
Whether it actually happens, of course, is another matter entirely.
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Twitter: @Kelsey_McCarson