Colby Covington is making waves with his ambitious plans for the UFC welterweight division. Covington, known for his outspoken and provocative style, has announced his intention to vie for the UFC welterweight title in 2025. His sights are firmly set on the undefeated Kazakh fighter, Shavkat Rakhmonov.
Recent events in the welterweight division have stirred up significant buzz. Belal Muhammad’s impressive victory over Leon Edwards has earned him the UFC welterweight title, igniting discussions about his potential first title defense. With the division now in a state of excitement and speculation, Covington’s comments are adding fuel to the fire.
UFC Star Colby Covington Rips into Belal Muhammad Post UFC 304 Title Win
In a recent chat with Submission Radio, Covington didn’t hold back his trademark sharp tongue. He swiftly launched a scathing critique of Muhammad’s performance and title win:
“I feel bad for the fans man, they got robbed of some entertainment and the highest-level fight of two bums, so I feel bad for the fans,” Covington said, expressing his dissatisfaction with the recent UFC 304 main event. He then turned his attention directly to Muhammad, who is known as ‘Remember the Name.’
Covington was quick to dismiss Muhammad’s abilities, saying:
“He’s not going to take me down; he’s not going to put his wrestling game on me. His striking sucks – he couldn’t even finish Gilbert Burns when Gilbert was on one arm, so what’s he going to do to me?” He didn’t hold back in his criticism, even going as far as to call Muhammad a “p****” and suggesting that Muhammad only showed interest in fighting Covington when a title bout was already set. “The only time he wanted to fight me was when I already had a title fight signed, sealed and delivered – otherwise he’s never said my name because he knows he’s a little b**** and he knows what I would do to him,” Covington added.
Covington Expects Muhammad’s Championship Run to Be Short Lived
Covington’s critique extended beyond personal jabs. He also predicted that Muhammad’s reign as champion might be brief:
“I think it’s a one-and-done type thing, he’s obviously on the right steroids right now, he’s doing the right cycles,” Covington claimed, hinting that Muhammad’s recent success might not be sustainable. He labelled Muhammad a “paper champ” and questioned his ability to draw significant attention or financial gain.
It’s worth noting that the UFC Anti-Doping database shows Muhammad has been tested three times in 2024, with all results coming back clean, which complicates Covington’s allegations.
Muhammad responded to Covington’s comments with a touch of humor on social media, posting laughing emojis and referencing Covington’s 0-3 record in title fights, highlighting Covington’s own struggles in championship bouts.
Covington’s Future
Although Covington has been absent from the octagon since his December 2023 fight against Edwards, he remains optimistic about his future. He is confident that he will be back in title contention soon, possibly against Rakhmonov. “I do think that he’ll [Muhammad] be one-and-done, I think I’ll be fighting s***-rat [Shavkat] for the title before the end of next year,” Covington stated. He’s determined to return to the top and prove himself as a leading contender.
Covington also expressed scepticism about Rakhmonov, the current top-ranked welterweight. He criticized Rakhmonov’s fighting style and questioned his credentials:
“I don’t think anything special of s***-rat,” Covington said. “He fights very tall, chin up in the air… He’s finished a lot of nobody’s, but he hasn’t fought top contenders yet.”
As of the latest rankings, Colby Covington is positioned at #4 in the welterweight division, just behind Rakhmonov. With his sights set firmly on a title shot and his characteristic bravado, Covington is clearly gearing up for what he hopes will be a triumphant return to the octagon.
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