Tag: American Top Team

Covington Takes One Last Personal Shot At Masvidal & ATT Pre-UFC 272

UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington wanted to get a final message across to Jorge Masvidal before their grudge match at UFC 272. After months and years of brewing tensions between Covington and Masvidal, they’ll finally get the opportunity to prove themselves in the Octagon in the UFC 272 headliner. The former friends turned rivals have…

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UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington wanted to get a final message across to Jorge Masvidal before their grudge match at UFC 272.

After months and years of brewing tensions between Covington and Masvidal, they’ll finally get the opportunity to prove themselves in the Octagon in the UFC 272 headliner. The former friends turned rivals have engaged in quite the mental warfare over time, especially during fight week.

A chaotic UFC 272 pre-fight press conference was followed up by an intense staredown at the ceremonial weigh-ins. Covington and Masvidal came face to face one last time before their highly-anticipated matchup.

An excess of security personnel and UFC President Dana White separated the two sides from engaging in a physical altercation, but the battle continued shortly after their faceoff. Covington has been on Masvidal’s nerves, invoking Masvidal’s personal life and his ex-wife.

Just hours before his fight with Masvidal, Covington took an opportunity to take a final shot at his UFC 272 opponent along with his former coach Mike Brown.

“Hey [Jorge Masvidal] you looked real nervous bud…” Covington said. “Maybe you should try that juiced up little drug addict Mike Browns favorite trick to take the edge off and fight on some GHB. Yeah I said GHB, but Brown did HGH too because he’s a nut less b**ch just like you.”

Brown is one of Masvidal’s main coaches and is arguably the closest to the welterweight star. Covington accused Brown of being a drug addict at the pre-fight press conference and doubled down on his stance in this most recent tweet.

Covington and Masvidal used to be teammates and friends at American Top Team in Florida. This was before the amicable relations between the two shattered following an alleged failed payout to a coach by Covington and a series of near-brawls at the gym.

Brown recently confirmed Covington’s leaked information regarding Masvidal’s injury that forced him to withdraw from UFC 269. He was supposed to face Leon Edwards, another bitter rival of his.

Masvidal has also recently shared a near-brawl that took place between him and Covington at a Miami-area sushi restaurant as their friendship deteriorated. After inviting Covington for a meal, and possibly a fight, Covington failed to show up.

This is much more than a grudge match, as former strawweight champion Joanna J?drzejczyk has alluded. This is a matchup between two of the biggest stars in recent UFC history and Covington and Masvidal will look to put on a show at UFC 272.

What is your prediction for Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal?

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Colby Covington Claims He Rejected An Invitation Back To ATT

UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington recently revealed that he had an opportunity to go back to American Top Team, but turned it down. Covington is set to face his former friend and ATT teammate Jorge Masvidal in the main event of UFC 272. It is arguably one of the biggest grudge matches in UFC history…

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UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington recently revealed that he had an opportunity to go back to American Top Team, but turned it down.

Covington is set to face his former friend and ATT teammate Jorge Masvidal in the main event of UFC 272. It is arguably one of the biggest grudge matches in UFC history and one of the rare non-title main events in recent memory.

A major storyline of the Covington/Masvidal fight is the two fighters’ time at ATT, and Covington’s eventual departure. Covington left the team after near brawls and building tension between Covington and Masvidal, Joanna J?drzejczyk, and Dustin Poirier.

ATT owner Dan Lambert has recently detailed his version of what led to Covington leaving the team, and that Covington’s fractured relationship with Masvidal was unfixable.

During a recent interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Covington admitted that he turned down an offer to return to ATT after the initial split.

“Yeah, I got invited back by Dan and Conan,” Covington said. “Yeah, go ask them. I got texts, if you want to see the receipts I can show you. I have them, they invited me back. I didn’t want to go back. It wasn’t a good situation for me anymore. The last two years of training there, just all drama. Terrible energy. I couldn’t have any focus in my career, there was no direction, nothing. Just, it was terrible. It was draining me and I wasn’t getting the best out of myself. What was sacrificed was my training and my evolution as a fighter.

Interview with UFC Champ Colby Covington of American Top Team in South Florida - YouTube
Colby Covington

“Now, I rid myself of that drama and all that stuff, I have a great camp that actually cares about me. It’s not about money, it’s not about paychecks, it’s about developing us as a fighter. Evolving. Taking the steps to get better every single day and I’ve seen the growth.”

Covington went on to join nearby MMA Masters and is now coached by Cesar Carneiro and Daniel Valverde. He has said on numerous occasions how much of a burden training at ATT was for him during the final days of his tenure.

Covington’s matchup with Masvidal isn’t just seen by some as a fighter vs. fighter battle, but also one with his former gym ATT. Covington will have the chance to silence his critics this weekend at UFC 272.

What is your prediction for Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal?

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Amanda Nunes Talks American Top Team Departure, Forming Her Own Gym

Amanda NunesAfter 14 years with the Florida-based American Top Team, Amanda Nunes is leaving and has revealed the catalyst behind this big decision.

Amanda Nunes

After almost a decade with the Florida-based American Top Team gym, Amanda Nunes is leaving and has revealed the catalyst behind this big decision.

The greatness of “The Lioness” was put to the test in December of 2021 at UFC 269 when she suffered her first loss since 2014. A dominant first round over Julianna Pena gave way to what was madness in the second round and Pena would find the back and snap Nunes’ 12 fight winning streak with a rear-naked choke. This was what many believed to be the driving force behind her departure from ATT but recently she’s spoken out to the main cause.

Amanda Nunes Explains

Speaking with ESPN “The Lioness” talked about a desire to re-focus and have a more “private space” and the ability to have more of a say in the decision-making process of what she does.

“…After all this done, I wanna be a coach. So, when I said I wanna open a gym, I didn’t say I’m gonna open a public gym. I wanna open a private space… I wanna do some things the way I wanna do. So, it’s gonna be something that I wanna do.”

Nunes also mentioned a private coach but didn’t go into detail besides mentioning she wanted to do better in her rematch with Pena. Nonetheless, it seems like the former champ is looking for a change, and maybe more of a one-on-one feel as ATT is known to have big classes filled with professional MMA superstars.

Recently it was made official that “The Lioness” and Pena were being made coaches for the 30th season of The Ultimate Fighter. So, Nunes will get her rematch while Pena will look to prove her upset over “The GOAT” of Women’s MMA was no fluke.

TUF 30 will begin filming in February with episodes debuting in May on ESPN+. The most notable of the contestants is Kamaru Usman‘s brother Muhammad Usman.

What do you make of this Amanda Nunes news? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Dan Lambert, American Top Team Fighters Crash AEW Event

Dan LambertDan Lambert was joined by Junior dos Santos, Andrei Arlovski and Jorge Masvidal as ATT made an appearance at AEW All Out over the weekend. Lambert is the owner and founder of American Top Team, and also happens to be a huge professional wrestling fan. He has made a number of appearances at All Elite […]

Dan Lambert

Dan Lambert was joined by Junior dos Santos, Andrei Arlovski and Jorge Masvidal as ATT made an appearance at AEW All Out over the weekend.

Lambert is the owner and founder of American Top Team, and also happens to be a huge professional wrestling fan. He has made a number of appearances at All Elite Wrestling events since it’s formation, showing some impressive skills on the mic. His latest appearance took place this Sunday, at the company’s biggest pay-per-view event of the year.

Accompanied by his fighters and AEW stars Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky, Lambert cut a promo hyping up the mixed martial artists and wrestlers, perhaps teasing a nearby collaboration.

.@AmericanTopTeam’s #DanLambert is here in a skybox with @junior_cigano, @GamebredFighter, @andreiarlovski & #MenOfTheYear @ScorpioSky & @OfficialEGO and they are putting all of #AEW on notice.

While none of the ATT standouts Lambert has brought with him to AEW events have actually competed in the ring, it’s certainly helped them gain exposure and could potentially set them up for a new career once their MMA days are over. Arlovski and dos Santos both drew cheers, while Masvidal garnered the biggest reaction.

While all three men are still active in their MMA careers, they appeared to enjoy taking part in the event and could possibly make the transition later on. Appearing alongside Lambert certainly seemed to put their foot in the door.

All Out was a massive success for the fast-rising wrestling promotion. On top of a series of highly anticipated wrestling matches, it also saw the debut of a number of high-profile signings, including former WWE stars Ruby Soho (fka Ruby Riot), Bryan Danielson (fka Daniel Bryan), and Adam Cole.

AEW has continuously grown out their roster, and appear more than happy to take on some newcomers who can come in with same name value already behind them.

What did you think of Dan Lambert’s promo? Will we see any MMA fighters make the switch to pro wrestling?

Dan Lambert No Longer Co-Managing Colby Covington Since ATT Departure

CovingtonAmerican Top Team (ATT) owner Dan Lambert is no longer co-managing Colby Covington. Covington and Lambert are extremely close with the latter not only serving as his gym owner, but also managing him over the years. Things even remained amicable when Covington decided he needed a change in management and decided to go with Ballengee […]

Covington

American Top Team (ATT) owner Dan Lambert is no longer co-managing Colby Covington.

Covington and Lambert are extremely close with the latter not only serving as his gym owner, but also managing him over the years. Things even remained amicable when Covington decided he needed a change in management and decided to go with Ballengee Group.

It was revealed that Lambert would still be co-managing him at the time. However, that is no longer the case anymore, especially after Covington’s recent departure from ATT.

“I have not talked to Colby for probably a couple of months,” Lambert told BJPenn.com after revealing he no longer managed him. “Once he made the announcement that he was going to leave [ATT], I haven’t spoken to him.

“But, I know I will, I have no ill-will towards Colby. I think he made the right decision for him and his career doing his own thing. Colby did his own thing when he was here anyway.”

Trash Talk Rule Still In Effect Since Covington Departure

Covington had been a longtime member of ATT, but things turned hostile when he started trash talking fellow teammates such as Jorge Masvidal, Dustin Poirier and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

It reached a point where Covington had to be worried about getting into fights at the gym while Lambert later had to implement a zero tolerance policy on trash talking between ATT teammates.

The rule is still in effect since Covington’s departure, but is now unlikely to be broken according to Lambert.

“I guess it is still a rule but it is a rule you don’t need without Colby being there,” Lambert added. “We have had a lot of people fight each other without an issue. But, it became an issue because Colby is a polarizing figure and he has a unique personality and a unique marketing approach.

“It made life a little difficult. I think it worked for Colby as he made more money and got farther in his career, but I don’t know if he needed that character inside our gym. Personally, he should’ve stuck on sh*tting on Brazil and supporting Donald Trump.”

It’s hard to say if sticking to the Brazil insults would have changed things — especially given how many Brazilians at ATT were not pleased with Covington’s antics.

Regardless, what do you think of Lambert no longer co-managing Covington?

Mike Brown Unable To Corner Jorge Masvidal At UFC 251 Due To Positive COVID-19 Test

American Top Team head coach Mike Brown will not be in the corner of Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251. Masvidal is set to challenge UFC welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, on July 11. The action will be held on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. “Gamebred”…

American Top Team head coach Mike Brown will not be in the corner of Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251. Masvidal is set to challenge UFC welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, on July 11. The action will be held on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. “Gamebred” is stepping in on short notice after Gilbert Burns tested positive […]

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