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Colby Covington welcomes future clash with UFC star Conor McGregor: ‘It would be such a blockbuster fight’

Colby Covington open to blockbuster fight with Conor McGregor UFC Former interim UFC welterweight titleholder, Colby Covington has claimed that a fight with former two-weight Octagon champion, Conor McGregor would be “blockbuster” in the future – admitting that the duo could likely break the all time pay-per-view buyrate. Covington, a former interim UFC welterweight champion and current #2 ranked division contender, has been sidelined from […]

Former interim UFC welterweight titleholder, Colby Covington has claimed that a fight with former two-weight Octagon champion, Conor McGregor would be “blockbuster” in the future – admitting that the duo could likely break the all time pay-per-view buyrate.

Covington, a former interim UFC welterweight champion and current #2 ranked division contender, has been sidelined from the Octagon since March of last year, securing a unanimous decision win over former teammate, Jorge Masvidal in a one-sided grudge match between the duo.

The victory returned Covington the winner’s enclosure after he dropped a title rematch loss to former champion, Kamaru Usman in November of the prior year in the main event of UFC 268 at Madison Square Garden.

As for McGregor, the former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion recently finished filming on The Ultimate Fighter 31 – with the Dubliner serving as an opposing coach against top-5 lightweight contender, Michael Chandler – ahead of an expected fight later this year.

Weighing up a future title fight at the welterweight limit with a win over Chandler, McGregor has not fought since fracturing his left tibia and fibula against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.

As for Covington, the Clovis native has been tipped to challenge for welterweight gold against undisputed titleholder, Leon Edwards as soon as International Fight Week in July – after he appeared at UFC 286 as a backup fight on just day’s notice.

Colby Covington weighs up future fight with Conor McGregor

Discussing the possibility of sharing the Octagon with his fellow outspoken pay-per-view star, McGregor in the future, Covington admitted that a bout between the two would be nothing short of “blockbuster”.

“Everybody knows I’m the biggest star right now behind him [Conor McGregor] in the company right now,” Colby Covington told assembled media at UFC 286. “So, if we did wanna do a pay-per-view, it would be such a blockbuster fight – I think it would be honestly the biggest pay-per-view seller in UFC history. Probably around 2,000,000 buys, to be honest.”

“If it happens, you know, beautiful,” Colby Covington explained. “If it doesn’t, you know, I’m not worried about that. I don’t need to fight him for my legacy, I’m gonna keep racking up wins, I’m gonna keep winning world titles.”

Nate Diaz claims he’s ‘Still king’ of the UFC welterweight division despite Leon Edwards’ win over Kamaru Usman

UFC welterweight veteran, Nate Diaz appears to be taking solace and a moral victory in his unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards back in 2021, claiming he is “still king” at 170lbs – despite the latter’s successful title defense against Kamaru Usman at UFC 286 over the weekend in London. Diaz, a former welterweight contender, […]

Diaz, a former welterweight contender, lightweight title contender and victor of The Ultimate Fighter during his tenure under the UFC banner, bowed out of the promotion last year, most recently headlining UFC 279 back in September.

The Stockton native took main event honors in a reworked welterweight headliner against former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson – submitting the Oxnard veteran with a stunning fourth round guillotine choke submission.

Linked with a slew of potential moves since his departure from the Octagon – Nate Diaz, who was revealed as an initial candidate to serve as an opposing coach on The Ultimate Fighter 31 against former two-time foe, Conor McGregor, has yet to ink terms with any organization following his exit from the UFC.

Sharing the Octagon with Birmingham native, Edwards at UFC 263 back in June of 2021, Diaz suffered a one-sided unanimous decision loss to the former, however, in the final moments of their five round clash, managed to wobble and stun Edwards on the feet – claiming a moral victory in the aftermath of the main card clash.

Nate Diaz says he lays claim to the welterweight crown despite Leon Edwards’ UFC 286 win

And despite securing his first successful title defense over the course of last weekend in England against three-time opponent, Usman in the pair’s trilogy rubber match – Edwards nabbed a majority decision win over the Auchi native, however, Diaz claims he’s “still king” at welterweight.

“Still (crown emoji),” Nate Diaz tweeted following UFC 286, accompanied by a promotional video of him wobbling Leon Edwards during their June 2021 welterweight showdown.

Nate Diaz claims he’s ‘Still king’ of the UFC welterweight division despite Leon Edwards’ win over Kamaru Usman

Nate Diaz says he lays claim to the welterweight crown despite Leon Edwards’ UFC 286 win

“Still (crown emoji),” Nate Diaz tweeted following UFC 286, accompanied by a promotional video of him wobbling Leon Edwards during their June 2021 welterweight showdown.

Stephen Thompson welcomes fight with ex-Champion Kamaru Usman following UFC 286: ‘100 percent’

With former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman now looking to rebound from two successive title fight losses to Leon Edwards – the Auchi native may have been offered a route back to welterweight title contention against veteran division stape, Stephen Thompson. Usman, the current #1 ranked welterweight contender and former pound-for-pound chart-topper, headlined UFC 286 […]

Usman, the current #1 ranked welterweight contender and former pound-for-pound chart-topper, headlined UFC 286 in London, England on Saturday night in his championship trilogy rubber match against the above-mentioned, Edwards.

Attempting to reclaim his championship following a spectacular August knockout loss to the Birmingham native last year, Usman was defeated on enemy territory in a close, majority decision loss to the Team Renegade BJJ & MMA staple.

Crediting Edwards’ for both his game plan and performance at The O2 Arena, Usman, a trainee under the tutelage of Trevor Wittman at ONX Labs – insisted he would be making a title siege in the future.

“A special thank you to my management, family, friends, and fans,” Kamaru Usman tweeted. “I appreciate each and everyone of you. Wasn’t my night but as always, we go back to work. Congratulations @Leon_edwardsmma great work.”

And whilst the upper-echelon of the welterweight ranks are booked for fights against one another, former two-time title challenger, Thompson has offered to fight the Nigerian next in what could likely come as a divsiion title-eliminator.

Stephen Thompson offers Kamaru Usman route back to the title

“100%,” Stephen Thompson tweeted in response to a Twitter user who questioned if he would be willing to fight former champion, Usman in his next Octagon walk.

Most recently headlining UFC Fight Night Orlando in December of last year, Simpsonville striker, Thompson scored an eventual fourth round corner stoppage TKO victory against Kevin Holland. And has floated a potential Octagon return for himself as soon as International Fight Week in July at UFC 290.

100% https://t.co/vtugjMSeLL

— Wonderboy (@WonderboyMMA) March 19, 2023

Khamzat Chimaev claims he accepted offers to fight Colby Covington four times: ‘He doesn’t want to fight’

Undefeated welterweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has responded to criticizm from former interim division champion, Colby Covington, claiming his UFC rival rejected the opportunity to fight him on four separate occasions. Chimaev, who boasts his own 12-0 undefeated record, most recently co-headlined UFC 279 back in September of last year, stopping Riverside striker, Kevin Holland in […]

Chimaev, who boasts his own 12-0 undefeated record, most recently co-headlined UFC 279 back in September of last year, stopping Riverside striker, Kevin Holland in a first round submission courtesy of an early D’Arce choke.

As for Covington, the former interim titleholder most recently headlined UFC 272 back in March of last year in a long-awaited grudge match against former friend and teammate, Jorge Masvidal – handing the Florida native a one-sided unanimous decision loss.

Yet to return to the Octagon in the time since his judging win over Masvidal, Covington has been earmarked for a title shot against undisputed champion, Leon Edwards next by UFC president, Dana White – calling for a fight with the Birmingham native as early as UFC 280 during International Fight Week in July.

Questioned about a potential future pairing with undefeated Chechen ace, Chimaev in the future – Covington mocked his fighting ability, and labelled him a “dog-faced motherf*cker”.

“That dog-faced motherf*cker, c*mshot [Khamzat Chimaev] – he said all these things about me in the media,” Colby Covington said. “He had the easiest fight in the division against Nate Diaz and he still missed weight by nine [seven and a half] pounds.”

“He’s laughing it off like it’s a f*cking joke,” Colby Covington continued. “He’s a f*cking joke, the guys sucks at fighting he’s unprofessional.”

Khamzat Chimaev appears to call UFC rival, Colby Covington’s bluff

Responding to Covington, Chimaev claimed he had accepted offers to settle their differences inside the UFC’s Octagon on four separate occasions, however, to no avail.

“Colby (Covington) is lying, he doesn’t want to fight,” Khamzat Chimaev said during a video on his YouTube channel. “I swear with everything I have – I swear with the Gods. I accepted that fight four times – all the Muslims understand, I swear on the Quaran. I get four times call (sic), we’re going to fight, I say ‘Yes’.”

“I have a conversation with [UFC matchmaker] Sean Shelby – I can show it as well,” Khamzat Chimaev explained. “We’re going to fight this guy (Covington). We’re going to fight with this guy, but it’s never happened.”

Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov’s son offers congratulations to Justin Gaethje following UFC 286 win

Former interim UFC lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje has received a congratulatory message from Chechnya warlord, Ramzan Kadyrov’s teenage son – following his victory over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 286 last night in London, England. Gaethje, the current #2 ranked lightweight contender, co-headlined UFC 286 at The O2 Arena in the English capital, securing a close, […]

Gaethje, the current #2 ranked lightweight contender, co-headlined UFC 286 at The O2 Arena in the English capital, securing a close, majority decision win over the streaking #6 rated challenger, Fiziev – snapping the Tiger Muay Thai staple’s winning spree.

The win returned Justin Gaethje to the winner’s enclosure to boot, after he suffered a first round rear-naked choke submission loss to former champion, Charles Oliviera back in May of last year in his native Arizona.

Earlier this year, reports detailed how a host of Dominance MMA represented fighters – including Gaethje and former welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman had travelled to a military training complex upon invite from Kadyrov – where they were issued a tour of the facility and fired a range of firearms including handguns and assault rifles.

Justin Gaethje offered a congratulatory message after UFC 286 win

And off the back of his judging win over Fiziev last night in the UK, Gaethje, a mainstay at ONX Labs under the tutelage of head coach, Trevor Wittman, was congratulated on his triumph by the teenage son of Chechen head of state, Kadyrov.

“One of (Ramzan) Kaydrov’s sons just posted this message for Justin Gaethje after his win at UFC 286,” Bloody Elbow investigative journalist, Karim Zidan tweeted.

One of Kadyrov's sons just posted this message for Justin Gaethje after his win at UFC 286 pic.twitter.com/h3gSPK07bl

— Karim Zidan (@ZidanSports) March 18, 2023

Kadyov’s association with a host of UFC fighters has been well-documented in recent years, with the most notable associate of the sanctioned warlord coming in the form of undefeated welterweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev.

The AllStars MMA staple has visited his native Chechnya on multiple occasions upon invitation from Kadryov – as well as receiving gifts from the head of state.

Recently, Chimaev also trained Kadyrov’s teenage son, Ali to a successful mixed martial arts debut in Russia – after training alongside him in Sweden.