Chael Sonnen believes there was something off about Colby Covington’s performance, though he can’t quite put his finger on it.
‘Chaos’ returned to the Octagon for the first time in nearly two years determined to finally leave with a world title strapped around his waist. Unfortunately, the third time was not the charm as ‘Chaos’ once again came up short, losing a decisive unanimous decision victory to reigning and defending welterweight champion Leon Edwards.
Following the contest, UFC CEO Dana White said that Covington looked “slow and old” in his latest title bid. Appearing on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Chael Sonnen disputed White’s statement, believing that something was clearly throwing off Covington from the opening minute and he was never able to overcome it.
“I was very proud of him from a character standpoint,” Sonnen said. “Competition and adversity doesn’t create character like people say, but it will reveal it and there was never a time that he quit. He knew what the math was. He knew that there was nothing good that’s going to happen by staying out here. But he stayed in there. He kept trying to win. He kept changing positions. He never let up.
“But from the first minute in, I could tell there was something he felt or saw that he didn’t like and I don’t know what that was. That could be something as small as range where Leon is just a quarter inch out of the way. This much out of the way and Colby needs that or he’s gonna miss. But he was seeing and observing something that I wasn’t observing as a viewer that he didn’t like. There was something where he wasn’t comfortable.
“The only thing he’s said after this fight, and I’m hearing all sorts of things about the ankle and the knee, but he hasn’t confirmed those, even in private, but the only thing he has said is what he did say publicly which is that ring rust is real. I mean, maybe. Felt like I was seeing something different though. He didn’t look old and slow, but whatever it was he needs to see before he changes elevation or to attack, whatever he’s looking for, he wasn’t finding and he didn’t find it from the beginning to the end.”
Chael Sonnen talks Colby Covington.#TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/OKkWsJCC5w
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) December 20, 2023
Chael Sonnen Doesn’t Believe Fighters Should Be Punished For Using Words
Before he clashed with ‘Rocky’ in the UFC 296 headliner, Colby Covington drew the ire of fans and fighters alike after he made a horrendous comment about Leon Edwards’ deceased father. Asked if he believes ‘Chaos’ crossed the line with the vile gibe, Sonnen said:
“Very much. With the dad comment, of course, he did.”
The outrage has many calling for fighters to be fined and/or potentially suspended for crossing the line during public appearances and trash-talking online. Though Sonnen agrees that Covington took things too far, he does not want to see a written rule implemented or fighters to be punished for simply using words.
“There should not be a rule,” Sonnen said. “I hate that idea. Do not let us fall into that. This world is a weak place. Words just simply can’t hurt you. They just can’t.”
He added, “I wouldn’t want it written down. I wouldn’t want a commission. I wouldn’t want a little board that you have to answer to.”
Chael Sonnen is asked if Colby Covington's press conference comments crossed the line.#TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/a1MlDWqkQH
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) December 20, 2023
