Unlike many fighters, Colby Covington says he is willing to set his friendship with Jorge Masvidal aside and make a fight happen.
Colby Covington is looking to build the persona of a fighter literally willing to take on all comers. So much so that he says he is willing to put his friendship with Jorge Masvidal aside, if the opportunity arises.
During a recent interview with BJPenn.com Radio, “Chaos” explained how he and “Gamebred” have drawn the line between business and what is personal.
“We were talking about this at least four or five years ago,” he said. “I mean, we talked about it. That’s the epitome of a friend’s relationship, to be able to go for the highest honor in the sport that you chose to fight for the number one and two spot in the world.
“I mean, it would be an honor to fight each other. It’d be a dream come true for us both because we’re both going to make so much money. Dude, we’re fighting f—ng sparring hundreds of rounds for free in American top team.”
If anything, Covington sees a lucrative payday for him and Masvidal if they do end up fighting.
“I mean, now we’re going to get paid $500 million,” he said. “That’s an easy no brainer. I mean, it wouldn’t even be hard to fight him, dude. Friendship aside, this is business. We’re both here to do business. I want to put food on the table for my mom. She’s got a tough upbringing, tough life. I want to get my family what they never had growing up.
“I grew up in the trailer parks, Jason. I didn’t have a good upbringing. It was a tough upbringing. I was on the Top Ramen diet. That was my diet growing up, Top Ramen three times a day. Pork in the morning, chicken in the afternoon and beef at night. That was my diet.
“I’ll fight anybody. I don’t give a f—k who’s in front of me,” he continued. “I got no friends in my weight class. Yeah [Masvidal and I are] best friends right now, but as soon as the lights turn on and we’re in the big city, man, there’s no friends. I’m here to do business.”
At the end of it all, Covington is proud of what Masvidal has accomplished, and holds high expectations for the Ben Askren fight at UFC 239 in July.
“That’s my boy, man,” Covington said of Masvidal. “I saw him today. I’m very proud and happy for what he’s accomplishing. He had a couple setbacks. He was on a little losing streak. He was down and out. I’m proud of the way he responds to that.
“I hope he goes out there and beats up that 40-year-old science school teacher nerd. He’s got a big fight ahead of hm and he’s just kind of focused on what’s ahead of him right now.”
Covington, meanwhile, is expected to challenge recently-crowned champion Kamaru Usman, but nothing has been finalized just yet.