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Tyron Woodley thinks Colby Covington should only blame himself for missing out on a UFC welterweight title fight.
Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley says Colby Covington only has himself to blame for missing out on a welterweight title shot.
Covington won the interim UFC welterweight title last June by defeating Rafael dos Anjos by decision, however since then “Chaos” has been stripped of his title, and only fought once against Robbie Lawler last month. It looked likely he would get a shot at current champ Kamaru Usman at UFC 244 in November, but now that fight looks dead and gone.
Talking during a fan Q&A at the Rogers Arena on Friday, Woodley said it was Covington who talked himself out of three title fights.
“Colby does a good job of putting his own foot in his mouth,” Woodley said. “I know people say that about me, but he’s a complete dumbass. He’s talked himself out of three world title fights. He was supposed to fight me before I fought Till, he bitched out of that fight. He was supposed to fight me before I fought Usman, he bitched out of that fight. You guys can do the math as to what he did with the Usman fight. (Transcription via MMA Fighting)
“To be honest, I don’t hate him,” Woodley said. “Hate is a very strong word. I don’t hate anybody. I definitely don’t like him. If he was on fire, I wouldn’t pee on him. The thing about it is I think sometimes we run away from our emotions. You’ve got to use those emotions. I think a lot of time my emotion might take me out of what I do best, which is figure out my opponent, take away their weaknesses, and leave them to deal with me.”
Woodley hasn’t fought since losing his welterweight title against Kamaru Usman in March. He was booked to face Robbie Lawler in June, but was forced to pull-out with a hand injury. “The Chosen One” has said although a fight with Usman is his main priority, he wouldn’t pass up a shot against Covington.
“My goal is to get my belt back, so obviously Usman is going to be my top priority. If Colby want to get that ass whooped, he can get whooped up too.”