Colby Covington is still sidelined after his Leon Edwards title fight defeat at UFC 296 in December 2023.
Everything appeared to be lining up for a no-brainer match up between Covington and rising undefeated 15-0 Welterweight contender, Ian Machado Garry. That was until Covington claimed Garry wasn’t a big enough name for him to return and fight. Covington also hasn’t flat-out said it, but he’s hinted that he’s not yet 100 percent after claiming to have broken his foot against Edwards.
Before Covington gets back in the Octagon, the title will once again be defended when Edwards rematches Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 next weekend (Sat., July 27, 2024). Muhammad had long hoped to take on Covington, but at this point, he believes “Chaos” has run his course.
“Honestly, Colby Covington just needs to retire, there’s literally nothing left for him,” Muhammad told The Schmo.
“He’s still trying to attach his glory days to three or four years ago when they thought he was good, but I think everyone figured out now that he sucks and I think that right now he’s just trying to figure out who’s gonna be the next person that he can beat up and then he can get on the mic and talk trash,” he concluded. “He’s kind of like Sean Strickland where he doesn’t have the belt anymore no one cares what he has to say.”
Between Edwards and Muhammad, they are each’s only non-victory in their last 13 and 10 fights. They battled to a no contest after Muhammad suffered an illegal eye poke in March 2021.