Colby Covington has unfinished business with Kamaru Usman after losing a barnburner to the welterweight champion.
Last December at UFC 245, Covington lost by fifth-round TKO to Usman, with the fight being stopped by referee Marc Goddard in the final minute of the fight. Covington (15-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) has remained steadfast in his opinion that Goddard stopped the fight too early.
Covington was dropped multiple times late in the fight, but as soon as Goddard waved it off, a conscious Covington stood right back up in disbelief.
Now, it appears the UFC will go with Jorge Masvidal as the next title challenger to Usman (16-1 MMA, 11-0 UFC) during “International Fight Week,” putting Covington’s rematch aspirations on hold.
Covington isn’t too worried, though, as he told MMA Junkie that the UFC has expressed interest in running it back in a rivalry that he sees stretching out over the next few years.
“There has been some talks with the UFC; they like the idea of a rematch,” Covington said. “They think it’s justified. I mean, look at the fight. I’m up three rounds to one going into the fifth round. I won the first, second and fourth, there’s no questions about that, and the UFC likes the idea. The fight delivered. It was a great fight, exciting fight, we put on a show for the people, but this has just started. This just started. That was Round 1; there’s Round 2 and 3 coming. There’s a sequel and trilogy coming to this fight, so I think they like the idea of it.”
Covington also was unhappy with a few breaks in the action. Goddard stopped the fight on numerous occasions, warning Covington of an eye poke and low blow. In both instances, Covington is adamant he didn’t even connect.
“The people know who’s the real champion, and the people want Round 2,” Covington said. “This is war, and we had one battle. But you know what, we’re just getting started. We’re just getting started. That was Round 1, there’s still Round 2 and 3 to go, and next time it’s going to be a fair playing field. He’s not going to be able to fake injuries to get a momentum shift when I’m about to stop him in a fight, so it’s going to be a completely different outcome next time.”
Should the UFC decide to book Usman vs. Masvidal, Covington is willing to wait. In the meantime, he’ll stay ready as always, in case one of them doesn’t make it to the fight.
“I’m going to sit tight, play my cards tight, and I’m going to keep getting better,” said Covington, who broke his jaw against Usman. “I love training and just getting better and just improving every day, and I know I still have a lot to work on. I’m still new in the game, and the good thing for me is I’m still young. I’m 31 years young. Time is on my side, so whatever they want to do, I’m still going to be here. I’m not going anywhere, and there’s no one that can take me out of this position right now, so I’m going to sit back, I’m going to see what happens, if someone overprices themselves out of this title fight, and I deserve to fight for the title.
“I already won a world title. I’m a world champion. I’m the people’s champion. I’m America’s champion. I’m Donald Trump’s favorite fighter, so to get me back, they need to do me right and put an even playing field and give me my rematch vs. ‘Marty Fakenewsman.’ And if not, if they want to go another direction, and they want to have ‘Street Judas’ journeyman Jorge Masvidal fight ‘Marty Fakenewsman’ then that’s fine. I can wait for the winner.
“Time is on my side. I’m not going anywhere. We can fight by the end of this year.”
Colby Covington far from finished with Kamaru Usman: 'There's a sequel and trilogy coming'
