If you’re hoping to see Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington battle before 2019 is up. As it stands right now, it’s not looking good, following Dana White’s comments on the situation Thursday night.
Covington’s recent claims about the UFC
After Covington cruised through Robbie Lawler in August, all the talk was about him fighting welterweight champ, Kamaru Usman next. Then it was reported the UFC was looking at having the fight take place on November 2nd in New York City. The fight didn’t get signed, however, and Covington claimed the promotion came with an unacceptable, low offer. More recently, the controversial fighter argued the UFC should pay him more since the it’s making “millions” of of him. The American Top Team member also accused the company of “bully tactics”.
White responds
Well, during a pre-fight presser for UFC 244 on Thursday, Whit was asked to comment on the situation. Here’s some of what the UFC President had to say (quotes via MMA Junkie):
“So here’s the thing with that,” White said. “Obviously, you heard me say in interviews after (Diaz defeated Pettis) that was the fight I was going to make.”
“So Colby Covington can say whatever he wants, but we make fights for a living. That’s what we do. We go after guys and we say, ‘This is next. This is the date. Do you want the fight?’ Obviously he wanted more money to fight Usman. We went back and forth.”
“This is the second time he’s done it,” White said. “He had a fight in Dallas, too. So we said, ‘If you don’t want to fight Usman then we’ll give you Tyron Woodley’. He turned down Tyron Woodley, too. You either want to fight or you don’t. When Colby Covington is willing to fight, he’ll let us know.”
Now, if you follow White, then you know the “you either want to fight or you don’t”, seems to have become his template response when a fighter is asking for more money. Is it that Colby doesn’t actually want the fight? Or that he wants more money? Likely the latter right?
All that said, could it be that the UFC isn’t convinced Covington’s the draw “Chaos” claims he is? His profile has grown significantly in the last couple of years, due to his controversial and polarizing persona. But questions remain as to whether he is a top draw like he asserts.
So, could we be looking at someone else for Usman’s first title defence? If not Covington, who?
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