It was back in October of last year that Colby Covington beat Demian Maia to become the third ranked welterweight in the world. Since then, he hasn’t been booked in a single fight. It’s clear from his multiple tirades in the media that he’s holding out for his title shot against Tyron Woodley. The UFC welterweight champion is currently rehabbing his shoulder, but looks to return to fight Georges St-Pierre in July. Covington claims Woodley should focus on the money fight with him, instead of fighters who he says are out of the picture.
“[Tyron Woodley] tries to racebait. The people that don’t like him and don’t wanna watch him for or think he’s boring, ‘Oh, they’re racist’. That’s his only claim now. So, he’s just trapped, he’s in a corner and he’s defeated before anything. The fans have completely gotten in his head and everybody’s under his skin. He doesn’t know how to handle the position he’s in now, but it’s okay, I’m gonna take over his position as welterweight champ and you will see the division be made great again. Tyron Woodley, all these fans hate him. He wants to be a hero, he wants to be the good guy, all the fans are telling you – I’ve literally had thousands of replies from Twitter that say, ’Tyron, if you knock out Colby I’ll be your biggest fan, I promise I’ll support you for the rest of your career’.”
That’s all it takes? Bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, Tyrone’s a bitch! @TWooodley I got a wedgie with your name on it bitch! Get off @TMZ_Sports and sign the contract BITCH! #NerdBash2018 #TMZSports #UFC #MakeWelterweightGreatAgain #WoodleysABitch pic.twitter.com/iMX2pLiXvZ
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) January 20, 2018
“Aren’t you seeing that I’m your money fight? If you wanted to become a megastar, you have to come and fight me and beat me up. That’s what you have to do to get to the next level. But he’s not seeing that, man, he doesn’t care about that. He’s not in this for his legacy or to be the best welterweight fighter, he thinks he’s looking for a money fight with [Georges St-Pierre] or Nate Diaz. Those guys aren’t even fighting anymore, they’re out of the picture. There’s no money fight for Woodley. […] He’s also saying that he doesn’t want to fight [Rafael dos Anjos] either. He’s just two-faced, man. When he was number four in the world, he sat out for two years to wait for a title shot. Now I’m number three in the world and I’m clearly the next in line. RDA fought three fights at welterweight. Last year RDA was getting knocked out by a lightweight Eddie Alvarez and getting beat up by Tony Ferguson. That’s never happened to me, no one’s ever beat me up in my career. That dude doesn’t deserve a shot at Tyron Woodley.” — Colby Covington speaking to Submission Radio.
Regardless of his controversial trash talk, the next in line to fight Tyron Woodley if you go by the rankings are definitely Rafael dos Anjos and Colby Covington. As Woodley lets his shoulder heal, Covington may have to solidify his spot by fighting dos Anjos, who he also blasted in this recent interview. Although, both of them are probably sitting on the sidelines waiting, strategically trying to not risk their spot. But how long until one of them has to fight? Tyron Woodley isn’t coming back until the Summer. It’s a three-way waiting game in 2018 between dos Anjos, Woodley, and Colby Covington.
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 1/25/2018.