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Dana White maintains Colby Covington will fight for UFC title next: ‘Leon Edwards didn’t fight for 2 years’

UFC president, Dana White is adamant that former interim welterweight titleholder, Colby Covington will challenge for undisputed division gold next, pointing to the fact current champion, Leon Edwards received his own title affair despite his own lenghty Octagon layoff. Edwards, the current undisputed welterweight champion, most recently headlined UFC 286 earlier this month in a […]

Edwards, the current undisputed welterweight champion, most recently headlined UFC 286 earlier this month in a championship trilogy rubber match against former pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman – defending his title in a close, majority decision victory.

Off the back of his decision win over Usman, Birmingham native, Leon Edwards was all but penned to fight former interim titleholder, Covington next – with UFC president, White initially confirming the #2 ranked contender would be fighting for undisputed spoils next.

Calling for a July matchup during International Fight Week at UFC 290, Covington’s campaign has been knocked back by Edwards, who has questioned the legitimacy of his championship challenge, and claimed the pairing made no sense next.

Doubling down on his stance that Covington will receive the next shot at gold, White explained that Leon Edwards will now have a target on his back following his successful title defense on home soil.

“Colby Covington deserves this shot at the title,” Dana White told assembled media following UFC San Antonio. “I don’t blame Leon (Edwards) – Leon just got through (Kamaru) Usman twice and now he’s looking at another wrestler now, with a funky style that’s tough to deal with. When you become the champ, everybody’s coming after you.”

“All the straight killers are coming after you and for the next three times a f*cking year, you’re faced with nothing but the baddest dudes in the world in your division,” Dana White explained.

Dana White points to Leon Edwards’ extended lay off prior to his own title tilt

Attempting to make Edwards see sense, White pointed to the fact that Edwards earned his title shot against Usman in August of last year off the back of his own extended period away from active competition.

“Leon didn’t fight for like almost two years, he got the shot,” Dana White explained.

Muhammad Mokaev set for sidelining following brutal kneebar attempt at UFC 286: ‘I heard all the ripping’

UFC flyweight Muhammad Mokaev is set to be sidelined for the next while, after suffering an injury in his recent fight. On the undercard of UFC 286, Mokaev would score an impressive victory over promotional newcomer, Jafel Filho, via a third round submission. However, after comfortably controlling the grappling exchange, the 22-year-old ran into serious […]

UFC flyweight Muhammad Mokaev is set to be sidelined for the next while, after suffering an injury in his recent fight.

On the undercard of UFC 286, Mokaev would score an impressive victory over promotional newcomer, Jafel Filho, via a third round submission. However, after comfortably controlling the grappling exchange, the 22-year-old ran into serious trouble, getting caught in a kneebar attempt by Filho.

Mokaev refused to tap, even with the leg being seriously hyperextended, causing the leg to curve and after hearing ‘six or seven’ cracks in his leg.

‘I felt his groin guard on my knee. I heard all the ripping and I was just waiting until it fully rips. I will never tap,’ he continued. ‘I know it’s a crazy thing to say. I will go sleep. If they don’t stop, I will never tap. Even if I end my career this way. I just have this principle.’

Muhammad Mokaev gives return timetable

With such a gruesome-looking submission attempt, one would expect a pretty severe injury that would result in a fighter being forced out for a fairly lengthy period. However, Mokaev seems to have made a lucky escape (sort of) and will only be out of action for a couple months with a grade 2 partial MCL tear and will not even need surgery.

Alhadmulillah! 6-8 weeks I will be back training. Thank you for all your messages, I received crazy amount of the support about my knee! It’s a strap season for me and my people! I will be champion one day InshaAllah.

Mokaev, 22, is currently ranked No.12 in the UFC’s 125lb ranking and will have his eyes set on progressing upon his return.

Should Muhammad Mokaev have tapped?

Michael Bisping plays down threat to Jon Anik from Colby Covington: ‘He’s not going to get murdered’

Since Dana White announced at the UFC 286 post fight press conference that Colby Covington will be getting the next crack at welterweight champion Leon Edwards, there have been a lot of mixed opinions regarding that decision. Many believe that since Covington hasn’t fought in over a year, no. 3 ranked Belal Muhammad, who’s on […]

Many believe that since Covington hasn’t fought in over a year, no. 3 ranked Belal Muhammad, who’s on an eight-fight win streak (nine fight unbeaten streak), may be the more deserving party of the two.

Jon Anik happens to be one of those people, and he recently had the following to say regarding the matter.

Understand acutely why Colby Covington was the back up but hard not to feel for @bullyb170! 9-fight unbeaten streak. Hasn’t lost in 4plus years. Just KO’d a previously undefeated fighter. The man deserves his respect and I don’t say that b/c he hosts a podcast w/ my twin bro.”

Colby Covington then responded in his recent interview with MMAFighting:

“That guy’s so beyond racist. Everything he does is racist, the guy’s a freaking joke. He’s saying I’m in this position because of my skin color? Because I’m white? Mike that’s clear racism I announced it that the UFC and ESPN need to cut him from the panel. They can’t have a racist on their show. And you know who’s hanging out and who’s socializing with that racist, Jon Anik.

“Jon Anik supports that racism so it’s a freaking joke. And Jon Anik’s supposed to be impartial Mike, he’s supposed to be impartial. He’s supposed to have the headset, he’s supposed to be an interviewer and remain impartial. Don’t be a cheerleader, you don’t wanna be a cheerleader because let down the headset, pick up the pom poms, go on the side and be a cheerleader.

“You wanted to lick my balls in London, but then you wanna go back behind the stage and cheerlead for a racist. So he associates with the racism in Belal Muhammad. And you know, Jon Anik dude, I don’t want your kids to grow up without a dad, just realize you live in Boca (Raton), I live in Miami motherfucker. You’re not too far from me, so you better shut your fucking mouth.

“You poked the bear, now the bear comes after you.”

Belal Muhammad had the following to say in response:

“This guy’s an airhead.

“If he doesn’t have something written down for him to say, if it’s not a script, if it’s not written down by a professional he sounds so stupid. And he’s just drawing for straws trying to grasp at something to make it seem real. And now you’re coming at a guy like Jon Anik, who’s like the nicest guy in the world.

“Any why, because Jon Anik gave you an interview you’re calling him a racist? You’re calling him this, you’re threatening a guy like Jon Anik?

“I told Jon, I texted him, ‘I can’t wait to come to Miami in two weeks.’ Because I’m cornering my teammate Ignacio Bahamondes, and I’m like, ‘I wish I’d see Colby there. And I wish if he even looks at Jon in a certain way of disrespect I swear I’ll walk up to him and slap him right in his mouth.’”

Sharing his thoughts on the situation, UFC color commentator, Michael Bisping played down the potential threat to life of play-by-play lead, Anik by former interim champion, Colby Covington.

“Colby Covington’s threatening to kill Jon Anik, uhh, but he’s not,” Michael Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “He’s playing the game. Jon Anik, he’s in the clear. He’s not gonna get murdered, he’s not being unprofessional. He’s just stating facts.”

To be fair, many peg Colby Covington to be the next best welterweight after Usman, but he’s been inactive, coming off his win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272.

Muhammad on the other hand hasn’t lost since 2019, and since his no contest with Leon Edwards in 2021, has defeated two different two-time title challengers in Demian Maia and Stephen Thompson, before evening the score with Vicente Luque, and most recently stopping Sean Brady, who was 15-0 going into their fight.

Unfortunately for Muhammad however, Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington is a much bigger fight than Edwards vs Muhammad.

Do you think Colby Covington vs Belal Muhammad will go down in the future?

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Colby Covington claims Jon Jones, Ciryl Gane UFC fight looked fixed: ‘It looked like it was a work’

Upon the arrival of the UFC’s consensus greatest fighter of all time, a heavyweight debut proved to be successful, but Colby Covington suspects match fixing. After a three-year layoff, Jon Jones took center stage at UFC 285 against a very dangerous and unique heavyweight, Ciryl Gane. In just two minutes, Jones submitted Gane in a […]

Upon the arrival of the UFC’s consensus greatest fighter of all time, a heavyweight debut proved to be successful, but Colby Covington suspects match fixing.

After a three-year layoff, Jon Jones took center stage at UFC 285 against a very dangerous and unique heavyweight, Ciryl Gane.

In just two minutes, Jones submitted Gane in a near flawless performance to become the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.

Colby Covington, who continues to make new foes on a daily basis, has never had kind words to share about Jones.

See, there’s no need to panic. The world’s still perfectly normal. https://t.co/YuWyN0MukI

— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) March 26, 2020

The two were college roommates at Iowa Central Community College for two years according to Covington, and he accused Jones of several wrongdoings such as steroid usage.

Jones has come out and denied ever sharing a room with Covington which raised many questions.

In a recent interview with James Lynch, Colby Covington said that there is a genuine possibility of match-fixing in favour of Jones.

“Honestly, it looked like it was a work,” he added. “It looks like it was a fix. Maybe Jon Jones’ brothers went over to France and told Ciryl that they’re gonna pay him under the table to take a dive because that’s honestly what it looked like.”

Jones stole the world’s attention during his return at the T-Mobile Arena, and has since reclaimed his suitable position as the pound-for-pound #1.

Surprisingly, Covington did not question this decision, and he in fact believes that Jones is deserving of that top ranking.

“He probably should,” Covington said. “He’s never lost a fight in the Octagon. He has that one loss, it’s a DQ, but his body of work definitely speaks a lot more volumes than Islam [Makhachev]. He hasn’t even defended the belt yet, so I have no problem with that.”

Colby Covington campaigns for UFC welterweight title shot

Covington was seen front row at UFC 286 yelling at Leon Edwards, calling for his title shot.

During the post fight press conference, Dana White confirmed that Colby Covington is next in line to challenge Edwards for his belt.

35-year-old ‘Chaos’ has not fought since UFC 272, where he came out with a dominant decision victory in a very personal rubber match with Jorge Masvidal.

Colby Covington claims Khabib Nurmagomedov avoided welterweight because of him: ‘I would’ve walked him down’

Former interim UFC welterweight champion, Colby Covington has claimed that former undisputed lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov avoided a long-speculated move to the 170lbs division – due to his own presence at the weight class. Covington, the current #2 ranked welterweight contender, has yet to return to active competition since March of last year, defeating arch-rival, […]

Covington, the current #2 ranked welterweight contender, has yet to return to active competition since March of last year, defeating arch-rival, Jorge Masvidal in a one-sided unanimous decision victory in the main event of UFC 272.

As for Khabib, the undefeated, 29-0 former undisputed lightweight champion, called time on his own mixed martial arts career back in October 2020, bowing out of the sport following a successful lightweight title unification win against former interim champion, Justin Gaethje.

Colby Covington claimed his presence swayed Khabib Nurmagomedov from a welterweight move

Linked with a move to the welterweight ranks following his ascension to the throne back in 2018, Khabib never made the move to 170lbs. And Clovis native, Covington has theorised that his rise through the ranks during Khabib’s title run at lightweight forced the Dagestan native against a weight class leap.

“He (Khabib Nurmagomedov) never came to 170 [pounds], because the man’s here,” Colby Covington said during an interview with MyMMANews. “He doesn’t wanna fight the man. He knew the man that had a great style for him, the guy that was way more well-rounded, could stuff his takedowns, being in his face and punch, and putting volume on him, and doesn’t break under cardio.”

“Like, that’s what I do best,” Colby Covington explained. “I would’ve walked him down. So, him and (Islam) Makhachev need to shut their f*cking mouths. They’re all talk and no walk unlike myself.”

Arriving in London last week as an official backup to the UFC 286 welterweight title headliner between champion, Leon Edwards, and past opponent, Kamaru Usman, Covington successfully made weight on Friday, however, his services were not required by the promotion on short-notice.

However, following the event, UFC president, Dana White, confirmed how Covington would be fighting Edwards for the undisputed welterweight championship next – with the latter suggesting a July return at UFC 290 during International Fight Week.

Dustin Poirier admits he feels ‘Nervous’ about potential UFC rematch with Justin Gaethje next

Former interim UFC lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier hs admitted he is both “motivated” and “nervous” about the possibility of fighting fellow former interim gold holder, Justin Gaehtje for the second time in their respective careers – after the Arizona native’s decision win at UFC 286 last weekend. Poirier, the current #2 ranked lightweight contender, most […]

Poirier, the current #2 ranked lightweight contender, most recently returned to the winner’s enclosure himself back in November of last year on the main card of UFC 281 in Madison Square Garden, stopping common-foe, Michael Chandler with a third round rear-naked choke submission win.

As for Gaethje, the #3 rated division challenger co-headlined UFC 286 last weekend in London, England against the streaking, Rafael Fiziev, securing a close, competitive majority decision victory over the course of three rounds.

Initially meeting Gaethje back in April 2018 at UFC Fight Night Glendale, Poirier managed to take home an eventual fourth round TKO victory over hometown favorite, Gaethje in the pair’s headlining fight.

The victory propelled Poirier to a stoppage win over Eddie Alvarez, and a decision rematch win over Max Holloway – the second of which earned the Lafayette native an interim lightweight crown.

Dustin Poirier open to rematch with Justin Gaethje next

And with a potential summer Octagon return looming, Poirier has weighed up a possible re-run with Gaethje in a division title-eliminator – admitting he is both “motivated” and “nervous” about the potential rematch in the future.

“It’s a fight that makes me nervous,” Dustin Poirier told Fansided MMA reporter, Amy Kaplan. “When I hear a mame and I get nervous, it’s motivation – same thing with (Michael) Chandler. When I heard Chandler’s name when they called me with Michael Chandler, I was nervous because I knew the dangers of those kinds of fights and that’s what motivates me.”

“Same thing with Justin (Gaethje),” Dustin Poirier explained. “If they [the UFC] do call me and he’s the name that they say, maybe it happens. We’ll see.”

Noting his willingness to score rematches with both Poirier, and former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira off the back of his win over Fiziev last weekend – Gaethje appeared to be piqued by a re-run against the Brazilian mostly, claiming he fought like a “complete idiot” during their championship clash last April.