Colby Covington parts ways with American Top Team
Colby Covington is no longer an American Top Team fighter.
The former UFC interim welterweight champion told The Score on Wednesday he has parted ways with his longtime gym in Coconut Creek, Fla. The news comes after Covington (15-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) was removed from the fighters page on the American Top Team website earlier in the week.
“I’m not a member of American Top Team in Coconut Creek,” Covington told The Score. “I’m a member of Colby Covington, Inc. I’m a member of Colby Covington business and Colby Covington team.
“You can now direct your complaints at me. All the people going to Dan Lambert and American Top Team directing their complaints, up in their feelings: ‘I’m a pro fighter, but I’m going to going to Dan Lambert. “Hey, Dan, I don’t want to fight him in the cage because I know I can’t beat him, but can you protect my precious little feelings?”‘”
Covington has had a long beef with several American Top Team fighters including Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier.
The 32-year-old fighter had no nice things to say about Masvidal and Poirier, but did express gratitude toward American Top Team founder and owner Dan Lambert, as well as the coaches and staff.
“I respect Dan Lambert more than anything in the world – that guy will have my respect till the day I die,” Covington said. “I owe that guy everything. He gave me an opportunity nine years ago to come train at his gym full-time, have food, money and a place to live. He never left me out in the cold. He always gave me the opportunity. So I’m very thankful for my time there. He’s still a friend, he’s still a mentor, but I fulfilled my debts there.
“We won together a world title, but I was also able to do something for him that no other fighter is going to do – and that’s take him to the White House. So we had a great relationship together. He did a lot for me and I’m grateful I was able to give him something back.”
Covington said there’s no ill will toward American Top Team and said it was strictly a business decision. Covington also said the gym’s implementation of the “zero tolerance” policy for trash-talking in March influenced his decision to leave the gym.
Covington plans on keeping many of his training partners and coaches, but without any affiliation to American Top Team. The UFC welterweight contender doesn’t plan to leave South Florida to go elsewhere to continue training.
Covington was last seen in action in December at UFC 245, where he lost to welterweight champion Kamaru Usman with a fifth-round TKO. The loss snapped a seven-fight wining streak for Covington.