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Colby Covington and Gilbert Burns have offered to step in and fight Tyron Woodley at UFC Fight Night 171.
With UFC London officially in tatters due to coronavirus, former UFC interim welterweight champ Colby Covington has offered to step in and save the day.
Covington, who hasn’t fought since his fifth-round TKO loss to Kamaru Usman at UFC 245, is willing to step in for Leon Edwards and fight Tyron Woodley on less than a weeks’ notice.
Edwards recently announced that he was removed from the London card due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the UFC has been forced to relocate the event at the last minute — although no new venue has been announced as of yet.
Word on the street is @LeonScott is out. The @ufc and America need a hero. Who wants see America’s Champ put the #MAGA cape on and beat the fuck out of @twooodley live on @ESPN next week for your entertainment and my own personal pleasure?
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) March 15, 2020
“Word on the street is @LeonScott is out. The @ufc and America need a hero. Who wants see America’s Champ put the #MAGA cape on and beat the fuck out of @twooodley live on @ESPN next week for your entertainment and my own personal pleasure?” Covington Tweeted on Sunday.
Woodley, however, says Covington is bluffing and has no intention of stepping up on short notice.
“I’m ready to fight! I’m trained to kill. Sorting through the smoke. This bitch above’s a joke. Few options. I’ll keep y’all updated. IM FIGHTING SAT,” Woodley responded via Instagram.
If Covington is out of the picture, then Gilbert Burns could be up to task. The surging UFC welterweight is fresh off his first-round TKO of Demian Maia at UFC Brasilia this past Saturday and has offered to fight Woodley at UFC Fight Night 171.
Come on @danawhite I said yesterday I’m saying again I fight Woodley Saturday! Put me in WOODLEY X BURNS! @seanshelby @AliAbdelaziz00 @ufc @UFCBrasil #AAA
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) March 15, 2020
“Come on @danawhite I said yesterday I’m saying again I fight Woodley Saturday! Put me in WOODLEY X BURNS!” Burns posted on Twitter.
UFC Fight Night 171 is still expected to take place on March 21, although no location or venue has been finalized.
Bloody Elbow will keep you updated as this story develops.