Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has issued a warning to Colby Covington regarding a potential move up to the middleweight division. Covington is currently strategizing his next fight following a doctor’s stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa last month. After suffering three lineal title defeats and a tough loss against Buckley, it appears that Covington might be nearing the end of his UFC career.
As he prepares for a possible return to the octagon later this year, Covington has hinted at a move to the middleweight category for his upcoming bout. He specifically targeted Sean Strickland, who is set to face Dricus du Plessis in a middleweight title rematch at UFC 312, during an interview with Submission Radio.
If Covington is indeed serious about transitioning to 185 lbs, Bisping cautions him to be cautious about what he wishes for. The former middleweight champion spoke on his YouTube channel, suggesting that Covington’s size may be a disadvantage in this new weight class.
Bisping remarked, “Colby Covington vs. Sean Strickland, first of all, Colby’s too small, simple as that. I don’t think he’s going to be fighting Sean Strickland anytime soon.” He emphasized that if Strickland secures a victory against Dricus Du Plessis, it is highly unlikely Covington would receive an immediate title shot at middleweight.
Bisping elaborated on Covington’s past experiences with title shots at welterweight, stating, “You’ve had three title fights at 170. You ain’t going to walk into a title fight in your inaugural fight at 185 pounds.” Furthermore, Covington has also considered moving down to the lightweight division, though that seems less feasible given his age and extensive experience at 170 lbs.
Currently, Covington finds himself in a challenging situation, looking for his first victory since a unanimous decision win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272. His recent record includes losses to Leon Edwards in a welterweight title match at UFC 296, and a TKO defeat against Buckley at UFC Tampa.
Overall, Covington has lost four out of his last six fights, which includes two defeats to then-champion Kamaru Usman. He hasn’t managed to win back-to-back fights since 2018-2019 when he claimed victories over former UFC champions Robbie Lawler and Rafael dos Anjos.
Should Covington decide to move up to middleweight, Bisping warns that it could be a grave mistake that may hinder his career even further. As Covington continues to ponder his fighting future, speculation remains high about what direction he will take next.
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