“That sambo sh-t, that sh-t’s weak. If wrestling was easy, it would be called sambo. But it’s not, it’s called wrestling.”
Former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington is eyeing a catchweight bout with undefeated lightweight champ, Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov is one of the most dominant fighters in the sport but, according Covington, fighting the Dagestani would be his easiest challenge to date.
“Yeah, I mean it’s an easy fight. He’s already asking to fight Georges St-Pierre in between welterweight and lightweight,” Covington said in a recent interview with Submission Radio (h/t Abhinav Kini of The Body Lock). I can make in between welterweight and lightweight because I’m not a big welterweight. It’s going to be more rewarding to smash two of Ali [Abdelaziz]’s biggest clients and just leave him crying.”
“He [Khabib] would be my easiest challenge. He’s small and he doesn’t even do what I do as good as I do it. He can’t wrestle as good as me. He’s never faced a high-level Division 1 All-American, a kid who has been wrestling his whole life. That sambo shit, that shit’s weak. If wrestling was easy, it would be called sambo. But it’s not, it’s called wrestling.”
Nurmagomedov last fought at UFC 229, where he submitted Conor McGregor in the blockbuster main event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. ‘The Eagle’ is expected to defend his lightweight strap against the winner of the upcoming interim lightweight title bout between Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway at UFC 236, set to take place next week, April 13.
As for Covington, the 31-year-old is teased to challenge newly-minted champ Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title later this year. ‘Chaos’ last fought at UFC 225, where he dominated Rafael dos Anjos to win the interim 170-pound belt.