LAS VEGAS – Colby Covington shared some rare praise for former foe Kamaru Usman.
Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) fell short in his middleweight debut against unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294, rallying late to lose a majority decision.
Covington (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC), who fought Usman twice in classic title-fight battles, thought the former welterweight champion did enough to beat Chimaev.
“I thought he beat him. I thought he beat ‘C*mshot’ (Chimaev),” Covington told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 296 media day. “(Usman) was striking him. I thought he dropped him. ‘C*mshot’ was scared to strike with him. He didn’t even hit him once, you know. Look at the significant strikes that were landed.
“If that was a five-round fight, Usman would have destroyed him. He would have finished him in those championship rounds. I thought he looked good. He took it on, what, four or five days’ notice at 185 (pounds) – up a weight class, never fought at that weight class. I thought he beat him.”
Covington’s support comes after Usman shared some nice words about him when breaking down his title shot against Leon Edwards in Saturday’s UFC 296 headliner. Covington admits it was unexpected.
“It was definitely surprising,” Covington said. “It caught me off guard. I really don’t know what to make of that. I haven’t really processed it fully, but I can tell you one thing: He spent 10 rounds in that octagon with me and he knows what I’m capable of. He knows the dog that’s inside of me, so he’s only speaking truth and facts, and shoutout to ‘Marty.'”
If Covington dethrones Edwards, he’s not ruling out a third fight with Usman, even though the former champ currently is on a three-fight losing skid. Covington was stopped by Round 5 TKO in their first fight, and edged out in their rematch.
“In my opinion, I beat him,” Covington said. “I beat him seven out of 10 rounds. You go back to my fight at Madison Square Garden – go rewatch that fight. Every single fan in that arena told me ‘You won Rounds 3, 4 and 5.’ It was clear as day. He won one round – the second round.
“The first round was a tossup. I do feel like I beat him in that fight and I feel like I’m a better fighter than him. I would love to see that trilogy. That’s another fight that plays out, so all these other contenders can wait because that’s bigger business that me and Usman have to settle. It’s unfinished business.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 296.
