Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington is setting his sights on two notable fighters for his upcoming Octagon appearance.
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After a break of nearly two years, Covington made a comeback in December to confront Leon Edwards at UFC 296. However, his performance in that bout fell short, and Covington missed out on securing the undisputed UFC title for the third time. Despite this, the 36-year-old remains ranked #4 in the UFC welterweight division. In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Covington expressed his interest in facing #2-ranked Belal Muhammad in his next fight to settle their differences.
“I’d like to fight Belal,” Covington stated. “He has been talking a lot of trash. I want to confront that racist… He’s holding onto his ranking and should step up for a fight. I believe our matchup should be next. He isn’t deserving of a title shot… After more than a year on the sidelines, Muhammad and Covington engaged in intense exchanges that caught MMA enthusiasts’ attention. While Covington is eager to resolve their feud inside the cage, he is also pushing for a shot at welterweight champion Edwards.
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If Muhammad doesn’t secure a title opportunity, a showdown between him and Covington would make perfect sense. Furthermore, “Chaos” hinted at his interest in facing former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in the welterweight division.
“I’m looking for legacy fights. A matchup with someone like Charles Oliveira would be fitting. He recently mentioned his desire to move up to welterweight… Charles Oliveira, are you up for this challenge? Do you genuinely want to move to welterweight for significant fights? Let’s see if you’re serious about it or just talk.”
Prior to UFC 300, Oliveira’s team expressed his interest in pursuing major bouts in the welterweight category. Considering his split decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan, the former lightweight champ might opt to test his skills in a higher weight class. Covington’s next move post his recent title pursuit is uncertain, but if a high-profile bout with Muhammad or Oliveira materializes, fans will likely be as engrossed in Covington’s pre-fight banter as they are in the actual fight.
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