MMA
Right or wrong, Colby Covington keeps the insults flying toward Kamaru Usman
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Colby Covington and UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman are never going to exchange Christmas cards. Pigs have a better chance of flying than either taking a pen or pencil and writing Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
The two best welterweights in the world squared off at UFC 245 in December 2019 in a back-and-forth battle that was regarded as perhaps "The Fight of the Year." With one judge having Covington ahead and the other two having it even, Usman stopped Covington in the fifth and final round to retain the welterweight title.
Twenty-three months later, the bitter rivals lock horns one more time on Saturday from the historic Madison Square Garden in New York City in the main event of UFC 268.
Even though Covington and Usman haven't knuckled up since UFC 245, the animosity between the two remains scorching hot. Each guy has blamed the other for the sequel not happening sooner. Former interim welterweight titlist Covington doesn't put the onus on himself for the rematch not happening sooner than this weekend. He puts it squarely on Usman, berating him in the process.
"Because he was refusing to fight me," Covington explained to DAZN News. "He was trying to fight four lightweights. He was able to get a couple easy paychecks his last three fights by fighting lightweights and actual bums and washouts. Now he's got to come fight a man. He's got to come fight someone who is raw American steel and sex appeal. There's nowhere to run. There's nowhere to hide. He’s got to come face me. But the only reason this fight hasn't happened so soon as because he didn't want it. He avoided it.
"He was looking for anybody in the rankings to fight but me. He wanted to fight Michael Chiesa, some nobody. He wanted to fight some other guys that’s not even in the UFC. He doesn't want to run back to me. He knows why. He's been in there with me. He knows what's coming for him. He knows what he's going to be standing across from him in the Octagon next weekend in Madison Square Garden. He's gonna get destroyed. He's never gonna be that same person ever again after I'm done with him."
Childish antics aside, Covington gave Usman his toughest test to date. He connected on 143 strikes, which is the most Usman's absorbed in his dominant 14-0 run in the UFC, and outlanded the "Nigerian Nightmare" in the three of the four rounds before getting stopped in the fifth.
In the interim, Usman's defended the strap twice against Jorge Masvidal with a title defense against Gilbert Burns sandwiched in between those lucrative bouts, while Covington's only stepped inside the famed Octagon one time, a September 2020 win over Tyron Woodley. Add in the fiery verbal exchanges between the two, and it has the recipe for being the biggest fight of the year inside "The World's Most Famous Arena."
Covington became a star with his wins and his gift of gab. Usman didn't break through until his two fights with Masvidal, which catapulted him into another stratosphere, and he is viewed as the top fighter in the sport. Covington gives Usman credit but slides back into his "Chaos" persona once again.
"I definitely think the circumstance that he went out and beat up a journeyman in St. Judas Masvidal gave it more hype," Covington said. "But I don't know why he has all that hype as Masvidal’s got damn near 20 losses in the UFC octagon. He is a complete joke.
"Maybe Usman’s got a little bit more hype on him," Covington admits with a bit of disdain in his voice. "I wouldn't say his star is shining any brighter because we know that more 'Marty Juiceman' has got about the charisma as a wet mop. So the guy's boring. No one cares to watch him fight. No one wants to hear him talk. He's unoriginal. He's just a fake person. He's a cheater. I can't wait to expose him to the people next. That's why they call me the people's champion. I'm going to do people a favor. I'm going to end this guy's reign, and I'm going to become the undisputed UFC welterweight champion."
Emotions are high gearing toward UFC 268. In a fight of this magnitude, you can't let your feelings get the best of you because if you make one mistake due to disdain of your opponent, especially the caliber of Usman, it can be lights out considering the champion's knocked out three of his last four opponents (starting with Covington). It appears the 33-year-old understands that UFC 268 could very well be the last time he gets an opportunity at UFC gold. However, the pro wrestler schtick in him can never just entirely leave his soul in the quest for the elusive UFC welterweight championship.
"I just think about how thankful I am to be where I am today," Covington said. "Not a lot of people come from where I come from in a small town of Springfield, Oregon, and make it to the bright lights of the UFC Octagon and becoming one of the greatest fighters, if not the greatest fighter of all time. I just put things in perspective and just be thankful and appreciative.
"But I do have revenge and vengeance on my mind. Revenge is a dish best served the cold and at UFC 268, and regardless, I'm going to dish Marty his revenge dish, and he's never going to be the same."
