Colby Covington would entertain a move to 205 pounds if USADA, the UFC’s anti-doping partner, went out the window.
Colby Covington has his sights set on more than just UFC welterweight gold.
Covington, a former interim 170-pound champion, said earlier this week in an interview with Las Vegas Sports Network that he wants to hold “three or four” belts at some point in his MMA career.
“I’m thinking 165, 155, 185 — all the weight classes,” Covington said. “I want multiple belts.”
Covington was then asked if he would go as far up as light heavyweight. “Chaos” said he would be up for the challenge and would have his way in a fight with his former college roommate and current 205-pound champ Jon Jones.
But the 31-year-old would only make the move under one condition.
“You let me do some steroids, 100 percent I can go up to 205 and beat up Jonny Picograms,” Covington said. “They’re giving title shots to anybody these days at light heavyweight. You see the guy that just got a title shot? He was like 1-4 in his last five. It’s just embarrassing. The division is weak. Get me on some steroids.”
Covington and Jones were roommates during their collegiate wrestling days at Iowa Central Community College, well before either were prominent MMA fighters. Over the past few years, the two have gone back and forth on social media and in interviews. Covington last year accused Jones of using performance-enhancing drugs in college.
Covington is next in line to fight UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who won the title just a month ago. Covington was expected to fight for the belt last year when Tyron Woodley held it, but an injury kept him out of a fight against Woodley last September. He has not fought since a June win over Rafael dos Anjos, in which he won the interim strap but was later stripped of it.
It’s still unclear when Usman vs. Covington will take place, but UFC president Dana White has confirmed Covington is getting the first crack at champ Usman.
Jones, on the other hand, recaptured the 205-pound title last December with a dominant win over Alexander Gustafsson. He defended it via lopsided decision last month against Anthony Smith, and is scheduled to meet Thiago Santos at UFC 239 in July.