Colby Covington will next in line for Khamzat Chimaev if he can get past Gilbert Burns at UFC 273.
Chimaev looks to break into the top two at welterweight tonight when he challenges former title challenger Burns in Jacksonville, Florida. 'Borz' is a heavy favourite in the fight despite only being four fights deep into his UFC career.
UFC boss Dana White said that if Chimaev beats Burns, No.1 ranked contender Covington will fight him on ABC next. The UFC has only hosted two events on ABC with the most recent coming last year when Marvin Vettori fought Kevin Holland.
“I think that if Khamzat Chimaev wins this weekend, we see him and Colby Covington next. I have a fight coming up on ABC, and in a perfect world, if everything plays out right, I would love to do Khamzat vs. Colby if Khamzat should win on Saturday night,” White told The Pat McAfee Show.
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Former interim titleholder Covington has competed twice for the undisputed title, but came up short on both occasions to Kamaru Usman. He most recently fought at UFC 272 last month, outpointing former teammate turned bitter rival Jorge Masvidal.
Chimaev thinks UFC boss White should go to "jail" if he makes a fight between himself and Covington. The Chechen doesn't think Covington will accept to fight him, stating: “I would be happy if they did that, but I don’t think they will.
"That guy would not fight me. He would go call the cops and Dana White would be in jail if he makes that fight. Like he always does, he talks too much in the media and then he sees you face to face and goes to the cops. He’s not that guy."
Chimaev's comments about Covington calling the police come after he was allegedly attacked by Masvidal outside of a restaurant in Miami just weeks after their fight. Masvidal is facing charges of felony battery after the altercation.
Covington has downplayed a fight with No.11 ranked Chimaev because of his inexperience in the UFC. Speaking after his recent win, he said: "I don't watch fights of people who've had three or fights in the UFC.
"He should be mad at his mum, his mum named him 'c**shot'. That's embarrassing man, don't get mad at me bro? Get mad at your mum, she named you 'c**shot'".
