Frustration has boiled over as Colby Covington took aim at the UFC, accusing the promotion of keeping fighters inactive. Covington said the promotion punishes fighters by freezing them out when they disagree with plans.
The former interim welterweight champion faced criticism for avoiding fights and remaining inactive. However, he pushed back on that narrative, saying the UFC matchmakers impose longer layoffs on fighters who turn down preferred matchup.
Covington pointed to Hunter Campbell as key decision-maker, rather than Dana White.
“[Campbell] kind of just tells you what direction they’re going to go, and it’s either you take it or leave it. So, you don’t really get a choice what you want to do. They just leave you, they ice you, [and] they won’t give you fights,” Covington said told streamer N3on. “[The UFC] just let you sit out there. They’ll say, ‘Hey, you turned down this fight, now you’re not going to fight for the year. You’re not going to make money.'”
He added: “Even if it’s not a good move, and you’re not getting paid what you think you deserve, it doesn’t matter. They say, ‘You either accept it and be a company man, or we’ll just ice you.'”
Covington last fought at UFC Tampa in 2024, where he lost a TKO via doctor’s stoppage to Joaquin Buckley in the main event.
Colby Covington Explains Why Fighters Don’t Take a Stand Against the UFC
Colby Covington also explained why fighters rarely take a stand against the UFC, even when they are sidelined.
Covington said the issue comes down to influence. According to ‘Chaos,’ fighters with the largest platforms have little incentive to speak out because they receive top-tier pay. He noted that those fighters sit in the highest earnings bracket within the promotion.
“The thing is, those guys that would make the biggest influence, that have the biggest platforms like Ilia [Topuria], [Islam] Makhachev, Khabib [Nurmagomedov], those guys are getting paid so well they’re never gonna speak out against the UFC,” Covington told streamer N3on. “Those guys are making $5 million a fight, $5 million to $10 million.”
Covington Takes Aim at Bo Nickal Over White House Fight
Covington has remained vocal in recent weeks, especially after the UFC did not include him on its upcoming White House card. He fired back at Bo Nickal, who claimed that ‘Chaos’ turned down an offer to fight him at the event.
Covington, a welterweight, would have needed to move up to middleweight for the bout with Nickal. However, he the UFC never offered or seriously discussed the fight.
Instead, Covington presented a proposal a different idea. He challenged Nickal to meet him at welterweight after Nickal faces Kyle Daukaus.
“If we’re the same weight like you claim, that means you’re 190 pounds and a full camp should get you down to 170 [pounds] as well. I propose we do this in a weight class where one of us is ranked and there’s actual stakes,” Covington said on his YouTube channel. “How about bring that stupid ginger bowl cut down to 170 pounds and I’ll grant you your wish to fight the biggest name in the welterweight division. We could do it this summer too if you want.”
Colby Covington Unloads on UFC Over Inactivity