Colby Covington sees multiple options for his next fight, but he prioritizes one over all.
Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) is coming off a unanimous decision loss to welterweight champion Leon Edwards at UFC 296 in December, falling short in his third attempt at undisputed gold.
Ian Machado Garry (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), who meets Geoff Neal at UFC 298 on Feb. 17, put Covington on his 2024 hit list. If the UFC offers Covington the fight, he’ll happily accept.
“Right after the busboy (Neal) fight, if he can get through the busboy and UFC deems that to be the biggest and best business the UFC can do in the welterweight division, then let’s do it,” Covington told Submission Radio. “UFC knows what Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington is about. CCI, Colby Covington Incorporated has never turned down one fight.
“I’ve fought the pound-for-pound greats, the champions. I’ve been a champion. I am the champion. I’m the best fighter and welterweight on earth right now. That’s just facts. You can have your opinion-based decision. But I know what’s facts. I’ve been in there. I felt it. So I know what I’m capable of, and I know I am the best on earth right now.”
Covington sees Stephen Thompson (17-7-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) as the most logical opponent for him next, but also likes the idea of Gilbert Burns (22-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC), who meets Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 299 on March 9.
“Whatever the UFC deems necessary,” Covington said. “There’s a lot of options. We got Gilbert coming up, that fat lesbian, just like Conor said. He’s coming up in March. If he beats that other kid that he’s fighting, whatever the scrub’s name is, then that’s a possibility.
“I think ‘Wonderboy,’ guys, makes the most sense. The ultimate nice guy vs. the ultimate bad guy. He came on this show, Submission Radio, and had a lot of things to say. ‘Oh, Colby’s going to get knocked out. Oh, I’ll knock out Colby.’ Oh, all these things. He’s No. 6 in the world, I’m No. 5 in the world right now. That fight makes the most sense.”
