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On October 24, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov defended his title for the third time and subsequently announced his retirement from the sport.
“The Eagle” is retiring with an undefeated record of 29-0 and is viewed by many as one of the greatest fighters ever. However, it appears one fighter doesn’t have that same sort of respect for Nurmagomedov and his opinion was on full display earlier this week.
In a recent interview with Submission Radio, No. 1 ranked welterweight Colby Covington ripped into the Russian fighter, saying that he should have fought in his “real weight class,” welterweight instead of lightweight.
“There was a great American legend hero that said in college, ‘p*****s cut weight,'” Covington said via Give Me Sport.
“And I’m not talking about Dan Gable, who I was around in college, the guy’s a legend, I’m talking about yours truly. I’m saying, if you have to cut weight, you’re a p****. Why are you looking for this big advantage to have a weight advantage over these little guys and beat midgets? Come fight in a real man’s weight class.”
Covington then asserted that he is the reason why The Eagle never moved up a division. He said:
I think I’m the man and I’m the reason he doesn’t come up to 170 in the first place. There’s a reason Khabib cuts that weight. He cuts tons of weight. Everybody knows he walks around at like 190. He’s bigger than me. But I’m a real man; I fight in my weight class. I’ll fight a man any size. Khabib’s looking for a way, he wants to beat up little midgets.
Covington has not fought since September when he defeated former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley via fifth-round TKO. He is currently campaigning for a fight with No. 4 ranked Jorge Masvidal, a fight that could potentially earn him another chance at welterweight gold.
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Covington Has Only 2 Defeats in His Professional MMA Career
Although Covington is one of the most controversial figures in the sport, he is also one of the best at welterweight. He boasts a professional record of 16-2, with four wins coming via submission and four via KO or TKO.
He is 8-1 in his last nine UFC fights, his only loss coming at the hands of welterweight champ Kamaru Usman last December. “Chaos” holds notable victories over the likes of Tyron Woodley, Robbie Lawler, Rafael dos Anjos and Demian Maia.
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Covington Wants to Fight Jorge Masvidal Next, Says ‘Gamebred’ Doesn’t Want to Fight Him
Chaos wants to take on his former teammate Jorge Masvidal next. “Gamebred” and Covington were teammates at American Top Team in Florida for years and now they are bitter enemies. Both fighters are ranked in the top five at welterweight and a win over the other could propel them to a title shot.
However, Covington claims that Masvidal doesn’t want to fight him. To read more about that interview, tap the link below:
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