Tag: Colby Covington

VIDEO | Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman Share Moment Following UFC 268: ‘It’s All Love, I’m Trying To Sell It’

Colby CovingtonFootage has emerged as part of the UFC’s Trill & Agony series following the fallout from UFC 268 — which appears to show welterweight rivals, division kingpin, Kamaru Usman, and fallen challenger, Colby Covington share a rather wholesome moment — where Covington appears to claim he is only firing barbs at Usman in order to sell the […]

Colby Covington

Footage has emerged as part of the UFC’s Trill & Agony series following the fallout from UFC 268 — which appears to show welterweight rivals, division kingpin, Kamaru Usman, and fallen challenger, Colby Covington share a rather wholesome moment — where Covington appears to claim he is only firing barbs at Usman in order to sell the fight. 

Usman, who headlined UFC 268 at the beginning of November at Madison Square Garden against two-time foe, former interim welterweight champion, Covington — lodged his second career win against the outspoken challenger in the form of a unanimous decision victory.

Dropping Covington twice toward the end of the second round with two heavy knockdowns, Usman initially started brightly against the challenger, who appeared to grow into the fight and arguably stole the third and fourth rounds. However, prior water in the basement, as well as a fifth and final round, closeout from Usman was enough to see him score his second career win over Covington, and in turn, his fifth consecutive defense of his welterweight crown.

Immediately after the final buzzer, however, Usman and Covington — sworn rivals, shared an embrace in the center of the Octagon, with the microphone briefly picking up some words shared between the two before referee, Dan Miragliotta intervened and corralled the two to their corners.

Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington embrace post-UFC 268, and share some wholesome words

In new footage released this week, we can catch an audibly warm reception between the two, with Covington detailing how he had maybe only spoken in such an inflammatory manner to and about Usman in order to help sell the fight.

Covington: “You know I’m just trying to sell it for you.“

Usman: “What?“

Covington: “You know I’m just trying to sell it for you.“

Usman: “I know. I know. I know.“

Covington: “It’s all love.“

Despite the warm embrace shared between the two, just moments later, during his post-fight press conference, Covington reverted to a familiar character, claiming that he had no respect for Usman, as well as calling him a “cheater” following an early fight eye poke. 

“I can’t respect a guy like that, I mean, go look on YouTube,” Covington told assembled media. “The guy dissected everything that he cheats on and everything. You see that injection marks all over his stomach? The guy’s not a clean fighter. I’m a clean fighter. I’m raw American steel and twisted sex appeal.“

“He’s a cheating coward, you know I have no respect for that guy. … he’s cheated in multiple fights, I mean he was holding my glove tonight against the cage. In the first round, I shot a takedown and he went bam, bam, twice to the back of the head.“

Colby Covington’s Words To Usman After UFC 268 Fight Revealed

Colby Covington’s words to Kamaru Usman immediately after their UFC 268 rematch have been revealed.

At the close of the second fight between UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, Covington could be seen whispering something to…

Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman

Colby Covington’s words to Kamaru Usman immediately after their UFC 268 rematch have been revealed.

At the close of the second fight between UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, Covington could be seen whispering something to his rival after the fight. Though the cameras were unable to pick it up during the pay-per-view broadcast, a video released on the UFC on BT Sport Twitter page gave the audience an up-close listen of the exchange.

The video above may be blacked out in certain areas. You can view the video here.

Here is what appeared to be said in the exchange:

Covington: “You know I’m just trying to sell it for you.”

Usman: “What?”

Covington: “You know I’m just trying to sell it for you.”

Usman: “I know. I know.”

Covington: “It’s all love.”

There was more to the exchange, but the audio was unable to pick it up. Whatever was said, it was enough for referee Dan Miragliotta, who was standing point-blank range between them, to say the two athletes could “kiss later” as he was splitting them up.

In an interview with Submission Radio after the fight, Covington claimed he offered Usman a promo code for the online betting website he is sponsored by. And in the UFC 268 post-fight press conference, Usman declined to share the particulars of what was said between them.

In the same post-fight press conference, Covington shut down any suggestions that he respects Usman. On the contrary, he would pick up where he left off before the fight in trashing his greatest rival.

“He’s a cheating coward. I have no respect for that guy,” Covington said when asked about the post-fight exchange between him and Usman. “He’s obviously a cheater. He’s cheated in multiple fights. I mean, he was holding my glove tonight against the cage. In the first round, I shot a takedown and he went bom-bom twice to the back of the head.”

Covington has also repeated steroid accusations made against Usman in later interviews, without a trace of any thaw in his feud with Usman.

For Usman’s part, he can’t help but admire Covington’s commitment to his “character,” which the welterweight champion likened to the dedication displayed for three decades by WWE legend, The Undertaker.

You can watch more exclusive, intimate footage from UFC 268 on the full episode of UFC 268: The Thrill and the Agony available on UFC Fight Pass.

What are your thoughts on this video revealing the exchange between Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman after their UFC 268 bout?

Continue Reading Colby Covington’s Words To Usman After UFC 268 Fight Revealed at MMA News.

Usman Tells Covington Airport Story That Made Him Rethink Everything

Kamaru Usman has recounted a story from years ago about an airport encounter with Colby Covington that later left him dumbstruck and resentful.

By now, it’s difficult to remember a time when Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington were not rivals. The ani…

Kamaru Usman

Kamaru Usman has recounted a story from years ago about an airport encounter with Colby Covington that later left him dumbstruck and resentful.

By now, it’s difficult to remember a time when Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington were not rivals. The animosity between the two welterweights has contributed to two of the best title fights the division has ever seen.

In an appearance on the FULL SEND PODCAST recently, Usman discussed the origins of his long-running feud with Covington. According to a tale from the reigning champion, the tension between the two didn’t really take off until after a strange episode in an airport following a UFC event.

“Funny story: Colby, started doing this whole—because of course, he wasn’t getting any love. I mean, he was winning but he’s just a little boring, beady-eyed little mug. No one really cared about this guy. And so I’m winning, and I’m just kinda moving up more than he is. And so he started oing the shtick. He started talking shit online. He started tweeting and stuff. And then I seen it. I’m like, ‘Damn, we just got in the UFC, maybe two fights deep each. And I’m like, ‘Goddamn, why does this guy have a problem with me?’ And so we went to a fight. I forget where that was at. But we went somewhere, so we were flying back. 

“So we seen him at the airport, and he’s by himself. He’s got that stupid little neck pillow on, and I seen him across. I’m like, ‘Alright, I’m gonna run up on him. If he talk crazy, I’mma steal on him right here. We about to fight him right here.’ But then, at the same time, I’m thinking, ‘Damn, I don’t wanna be on the no-fly list. Because if you mess around in the airport, you get put on that list. I don’t wanna do that.”

What happened next threw Usman for a swerve. The mean-spirited character displayed by Covington over the Internet seemed to have vanished, leaving Usman feeling like the only bad guy in the conversation.

“So I’m thinking, ‘OK, how do I approach it? Let’s approach him here, give him the look. Let him know, ‘Hey, is is not cool.’ So I go up to him and my teammate is recording it like a jackass. He’s recording it and he’s instigating it. You know how it is. He’s like, ‘You won’t do nothin’. I bet you won’t do nothin’.’ So I walk up to him, and I’m like, ‘Alright, let me not come too aggressive, but at the same time, let him know that I’m serious.’

Kamaru Usman
Kamaru Usman (Photo: Mike Roach/Zuffa)

“So I go and I sit in front of him and I’m like, ‘What’s going on, man?’ And I give him the look, like the tough look. ‘What’s going on, man?’ And he was so nice that I felt like a jackass right after the break. I was like, ‘Ugh! Damn, I was trying to be mean, and he’s trying to be nice.’ He’s like, <polite voice> ‘What’s up, man? How you doing?’ I was like, <awkardly> ‘Uh, I’m cool. I’m cool. What’s up?’

“So I was all ready for action, but he was so nice. I was like, ‘Damn, I’m like, I’m kind of a jackass here….and so now I felt like a jerk and I’m like, <meekly> ‘Aight, um, yeah, aight, see you later.’ So I get up and I’m like, ‘Damn, I felt like a jerk for that.”

The story doesn’t end there, however. What happened next would inspire an epiphany from Usman, which is that there would inevitably come a day when he would punch Colby Covington in the face.

“Then the next week, this motherfucker gets online, he’s like, ‘Next time you see me at the airport, I’mma smack the shit out of you if I see you!’ I’m like, ‘Bro! You were just a nice guy!’ And that’s really at that point I was like, ‘OK, at some point, me and him are gonna be locked in that Octagon and we’re gonna scrap.”

Usman was victorious in both of these eventual scraps. Their bout at UFC 245 in 2019 was the MMA News Fight of the Year. And earlier this month, the premier UFC welterweights ran it back in another nail-biter. Once again, Usman would emerge victorious, keeping his undefeated UFC record intact.

Covington appeared to be friendly in the Octagon immediately after the bout concluded. However, similar to Usman’s account in the story above, Covington would then revert to trashing him from afar after their face-to-face confrontation.

What do you make of this story from Kamaru Usman?

Continue Reading Usman Tells Covington Airport Story That Made Him Rethink Everything at MMA News.

Colby Covington: Israel Adesanya Wouldn’t Be Able To Stop Me

UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington believes a move up to middleweight is always an option and is confident he could take down and gas out 185-pound champion Israel Adesanya.

Covington, a former interim champion, has unsuccessfully challenge…

Colby Covington, Israel Adesanya

UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington believes a move up to middleweight is always an option and is confident he could take down and gas out 185-pound champion Israel Adesanya.

Covington, a former interim champion, has unsuccessfully challenged for the 170-pound gold twice in the past two years. In his first attempt to dethrone Kamaru Usman at UFC 245 in 2019, “Chaos” gave the champion a test that no other contender has been able to emulate. After seemingly entering the final round with two rounds in the bank each, it was “The Nigerian Nightmare” who edged ahead and secured a fifth-frame TKO.

After the champ recorded successful defenses against Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal, he turned his attention back to Covington. In the main event of UFC 268 earlier this month, the pair collided in front of a sold-out Madison Square Garden crowd. Despite once again taking Usman to the limit, “Chaos” fell short, this time on the judges’ scorecards.

In an exclusive interview with MMA News’ James Lynch following his latest setback, Covington discussed numerous topics, including a potential grudge match with Jorge Masvidal, the recent conduct of Jon Jones and Conor McGregor, the possibility of a Canelo vs. Usman crossover clash, and the idea of moving up to contest for gold at middleweight.

Despite admitting he isn’t the biggest welterweight, Covington told MMA News that a future venture to 185 pounds is definitely a possibility.

“Yeah, it’s an option. I used to train with middleweights all the time. I always used to love to train with bigger guys ‘cos I just knew I could wear them out quicker. They’re bigger and they’ve got more muscle and they just wear faster. They’re a lot slower, too. They’re not as quick as welterweights. So, it’s just easier to train with those guys and beat them up.”

Covington Claims He’d “Destroy Anybody At Middleweight”

The middleweight division is currently ruled by Israel Adesanya. Since joining the UFC in 2018, the Nigerian-New Zealander has gone 10-0 at 185 pounds, defeating Brad Tavares, Derek Brunson, Anderson Silva, Kelvin Gastelum, Robert Whittaker, Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, and Marvin Vettori. Not a bad résumé is it?

Despite that, Colby Covington believes he’d have no problem taking down and gassing out “The Last Stylebender,” something he says Adesanya’s sole MMA loss to Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 proved.

“If the right opportunity presents itself, I’ll destroy anybody at middleweight,” Covington told MMA News. “I mean, Stylebender, he can’t wrestle. He’s not a well-rounded fighter, you know. I’d honestly, I’d take him down and gas him out; he wouldn’t be able to stop me. He’s getting taken down by that guy that he fought last fight (Blachowicz). That guy doesn’t even take guys down, he’s never even wrestled; the 205 champ.

Colby Covington
Colby Covington (Image Credit: Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)

“If the right opportunity presents itself man, trust me, I know how good I am. These guys can’t stop me, man. I’ve never lost a round to a middleweight when I used to train with those guys. We’ll see.”

While there are certainly some mouth-watering matchups for Covington should he ever make the move up, he isn’t short of options in his current stomping ground either.

As well as a desired fight with former friend-turned-bitter rival Jorge Masvidal, Covington has expressed his willingness to derail the Khamzat Chimaev hype train.

How do you think Colby Covington would fare against Israel Adesanya at middleweight?

Continue Reading Colby Covington: Israel Adesanya Wouldn’t Be Able To Stop Me at MMA News.

Usman Compares Covington’s Character Dedication To The Undertaker’s

Kamaru Usman is not surprised by Colby Covington’s post-UFC 268 behavior.

It is no secret that both bouts between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington had highly contentious build-ups to say the very least. This particularly rings true when replaying t…

The Undertaker, Colby Covington

Kamaru Usman is not surprised by Colby Covington’s post-UFC 268 behavior.

It is no secret that both bouts between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington had highly contentious build-ups to say the very least. This particularly rings true when replaying the words of Covington. Covington has taken shots at Usman’s family, made accusations of steroid use, and has generally spoken without boundaries whenever addressing his rival.

Immediately after their rematch at UFC 268, however, something unexpected happened—“out of character” even, if you will. Covington appeared to extend a show of respect to Usman after the fight, whispering something in his ear that referee Dan Miragliotta heard up close. Miragliotta seemed to consider the words to be overly positive if anything, telling the welterweights to ‘kiss’ later as he split them apart.

By the time Covington made it to the post-fight press conference, however, he was back to running down Usman without missing a beat. He reiterated that he was incapable of respecting a cheater like Usman and that he once again felt robbed in the fight.

Kamaru Usman Unsurprised By Covington ‘Staying In Character’

Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman
Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman Credit: Getty Images

In an appearance on The FULL SEND PODCAST this week, the welterweight champion explained why he wasn’t surprised to see Covington continue with the insults and disrespect despite the apparent show of respect after the fight.

“I mean, he’s supposed to,” Usman said of Covington sticking to his guns after the fight. “That’s what you’re supposed to do. Like, Undertaker was wrestling for how many years? Have you ever seen him break character, really? So I mean, it is what it is. He has to do what he can.”

The Undertaker is a pro wrestling legend who performed in the WWE for three decades. He is considered to be one of the greatest characters in the history of sports entertainment. If you were to ask Colby Covington, however, there is no character being played on his part and every word out of his mouth is what they would call in the wrestling business a “shoot.”

Covington is adamant that he and Usman still have unfinished business, so he continues to cut promos on the Nigerian American left and right in true WWE fashion. One of them could be found with us here on MMA News, where Covington continued to bash Usman and also covered a litany of other topics, such as Jon Jones’s latest arrest, the “downfall” of Conor McGregor, the origins of his beef with Jorge Masvidal, and so much more.

You can view that full interview below!

Continue Reading Usman Compares Covington’s Character Dedication To The Undertaker’s at MMA News.

Colby Covington Explains Why Second Round Against Kamaru Usman Wasn’t 10-8

Colby CovingtonColby Covington doesn’t believe there were any 10-8 rounds in his rematch with Kamaru Usman. Covington suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Usman in their welterweight title sequel at UFC 268 earlier this month. Covington was notably dropped twice in the second round with many expecting the finish to come soon. However, “Chaos” survived and […]

Colby Covington

Colby Covington doesn’t believe there were any 10-8 rounds in his rematch with Kamaru Usman.

Covington suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Usman in their welterweight title sequel at UFC 268 earlier this month. Covington was notably dropped twice in the second round with many expecting the finish to come soon.

However, “Chaos” survived and ended the fight strong. In the end, however, it wasn’t enough as Usman still won all three judges’ scorecards.

Colby Covington: Only The Haters Calling It 10-8

Although the three judges didn’t score the second round as a 10-8, many fans, fighters and media alike deemed it a 10-8 on social media.

To that, Covington responded:

“I feel like I was kind of pressing in that round, and that round was mine up until that point,” Covington told James Lynch. “If you look at the tape, you can clearly see that I wobbled him with the jab, he kind of stumbled twice, but he gets his bearings and he throws a 3-2, right hand-left hook and the left hook just kind of caught me on the right spot, the temple. For just a quarter-second it put me down, but I wasn’t hurt. It wasn’t like I was wobbled and he had me completely concussed with a big shot. It just caught me unexpectedly.

“I was rushing in and my defense was down and he just caught a good shot. That’s not a 10-8 round, though. No way that’s a 10-8. 10-8 is when they’re doing damage and freaking almost finishing the guy. I wasn’t even close to getting finished. Those are the haters, man. The clickbait merchants is what I call them. There are just three judges in there. Millions of people watching the fight worldwide can decide for themselves.”

You can watch the snippet below:

Whether it’s a 10-8 or not is irrelevant in the end as Covington would have lost regardless seeing as the judges never scored it a 10-8 in the first place.

Did you think it was a 10-8 round for Kamaru Usman against Colby Covington?