Colby Covington is a polarizing figure in the UFC welterweight division, has once again stirred controversy with offensive comments aimed at Belal Muhammad, the current division champion who is Palestinian-American. Covington, known for his brash persona and trash talk, accused Muhammad of wearing a “pager on his foot” that allegedly exploded, causing him to withdraw from a fight.
Colby Covington on Belal Muhammad
In a recent statement, Covington commented on Muhammad’s withdrawal from his fight, claiming, “I called the UFC when Belal had a pager on his foot, and he backed out ’cause I guess the pager exploded on his ankle and messed up his toe, which is just weird. You guys need to ask Belal why he is wearing a pager around his ankle. That’s just weird.” These words, though masked as trash talk, have drawn widespread criticism for their Islamophobic implications.
Covington’s remarks cannot be separated from the broader geopolitical context. On September 17, 2024, an incident occurred when pagers distributed to Hezbollah operatives exploded simultaneously across Lebanon and Syria. The explosion, which resulted in numerous casualties, was allegedly the work of Israeli intelligence. While Covington’s comments seem to reference this event, they do so in a manner that links Muhammad to terrorism, using a stereotype that Muslim individuals are linked to violence and extremism.
Covington’s behavior is not new. Throughout his career, he has made headlines for pushing the boundaries of trash talk, often crossing the line into offensive and hate-filled rhetoric, often against black athletes. However, this latest incident takes his words into dangerous territory, invoking Islamophobic stereotypes to make a cheap point.
It’s crazy how Colby Covington can go to a UFC press conference & openly call Belal Muhammad a terrorist just because he’s Muslim & not a single media outlet writes an article about it
“Colby Covington’s remarks against Belal Muhammad reflect a broader pattern of prejudice. In an era where athletes are increasingly using their platforms for social good, Covington’s words stand in stark contrast and perpetuate hatred. Colby Covington lobbies disgusting Islamaphobic attack against Belal Muhammad claiming “he pulled out because a pager exploded on his ankle” Colby is such a disgrace but this really highlights his desperation to stay relevant.”
