Colby Covington isn’t buying into the Khamzat Chimaev hype just yet.
2020 was a breakout year for rising undefeated welterweight Khamzat Chimaev. The 27-year-old Stockholm-based fighter put on an impressive three-fight streak in a three-month span while setting records in the process.
“Borz” was unfortunately stopped on his tracks later in the year when he was severely hit by COVID-19. But in his return at UFC 267 last weekend against Li Jingliang, Chimaev didn’t appear to miss a step. He got the job done via first-round submission in a performance that earned him a $50,000 bonus.
Yet, despite his success, those at the top of the 170-pound ladder aren’t buying into his hype just yet. Number two-ranked Colby Covington was asked about Chimaev during a media scrum on Wednesday, and he churned out some typical COVID-19 misinformation.
“C—shot Chimaev, he’s got to do a lot more work than get three fights in the UFC. You guys hype these guys up real quick, but let’s not forget that he was put down by the common cold. He was ready to retire off the common cold,” he told the media.
“That’s a 99.9 percent survival rate to beat the common cold, and C—shot Chimaev was ready to give it up and retire. He doesn’t want to fight me. He’s got way less chance than 99.9 percent chance against me.”
Covington will get another crack at UFC welterweight gold at UFC 268 on Saturday in a rematch against reigning champion Kamaru Usman. The event takes place at Madison Square Garden.