Tyron Woodley says Colby Covington has someone write a script for his trash talk.
Tyron Woodley is not impressed with Colby Covington’s skills in the Octagon or his skills on the mic.
Covington, 30, made enemies when he trashed the country of Brazil after his win over Demian Maia at UFC Fight Night 119, referring to Maia’s countrymen as ‘filthy animals’ in his post-fight interview at Ginásio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Since then, ‘Chaos’ has antagonized just about everyone on social media, and even got into a scuffle with ex-UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum last year over his derogatory comments about Brazil.
According to Woodley, though, Covington’s lines are all ‘written’ and ‘scripted’ by American Top Team’s John Harnett, who manages the front desk in Coconut Creek, Florida.
“You can just kinda look at it, and you can tell for yourself. It’s written and it’s scripted,” Woodley said of Covington’s controversial antics in a recent interview with MMA Fighting. “If he would have thought of it by himself, it would be like, ‘okay, he’s trying’. But when you sit down, and you and a group of guys are writing this out, like strategizing this, it’s kinda embarrassing.”
“I know it is,” Woodley answered when asked if Covington’s trash talk was actually scripted. “He has John Harnett, from American Top Team, writing it out for him – which is even more so embarrassing. That the guy that’s managing the front desk of ATT is scripting out your entire onslaught and doing photoshops.”
Woodley, who is currently nursing a shoulder injury, will look to fight the winner of Covington’s upcoming interim welterweight title bout with Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225.
The reigning champ expects Covington to attack dos Anjos with his ‘pillow fists’ and wrestling and isn’t worried about RDA’s predictable combinations.
“Colby’s gonna come out and throw pillow fists and try to wrestle RDA to death,” Woodley stated when asked about the matchup. “RDA’s gonna throw the same combinations, the same left kick. He’s gonna try to get on top, try to get a head and arm triangle – and that’s what he does well at.”
UFC 225, which will feature dos Anjos vs. Covington in the co-main event, takes place on June 9 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.