Colby Covington, the UFC’s resident provocateur, thrives on conflict. So when he bolted from the UFC Performance Institute (PI) in Las Vegas during a Twitch stream after spotting ex-teammate Themba Gorimbo, it raised eyebrows. This wasn’t a brawl, but a retreat loaded with history. Here’s what happened, why it matters, and where both fighters stand.
The Incident: Caught on Stream
Mid-stream, Covington’s at the PI, chatting with viewers. Suddenly, he tenses up and says to his cameraman, “Oh shit, you saw who was down there? The ungrateful motherfucker who we used to feed.” That’s the exact line from his Twitch broadcast. Without hesitation, he turns and leaves the training area. The target, Themba Gorimbo, a welterweight he once trained with at MMA Masters. No punches were thrown, but the moment crackled with unresolved tension.
👀Colby Covington nearly ran into former teammate Themba Gorimbo at UFC PI
🎥 @ColbyCovMMA ▫️pic.twitter.com/tZEjFHD3eL
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) March 4, 2025
Covington and Gorimbo’s paths crossed years ago at MMA Masters. Gorimbo, then a struggling newcomer, has said in interviews that Covington brought him food during tough times, showing a rare softer side of the brash welterweight. That bond frayed in late 2023. Gorimbo has recounted how Covington, prepping for UFC 296, had him removed from a treadmill at the PI to cut weight alone. The incident left Gorimbo resentful. He soon left MMA Masters for Xtreme Couture, and their camaraderie turned cold. Covington’s “ungrateful” remark on stream suggests he views Gorimbo’s departure as disloyalty.
Covington’s no coward. He’s faced Kamaru Usman twice and brawled with Jorge Masvidal outside a restaurant. So why dodge Gorimbo? It’s likely tactical. Gorimbo has suggested he held his own against Covington in past sparring, describing it as intense. A public scuffle could’ve risked embarrassment, especially on camera. Or it’s about control, Covington, the self-styled villain, prefers to shape the story, not get caught off-guard. By leaving, he stays in charge.
At 37, Covington’s 17-5 record includes three failed title bids, two against Usman, one against Leon Edwards. His latest loss, a TKO to Joaquin Buckley in December 2024, marks two straight defeats. Once the interim champ and a top heel, his stock’s slipping. He’s mentioned moving to middleweight or even joining WWE, but for now, he’s relying on moments like this to stay in the spotlight.
Gorimbo’s Climb
Gorimbo, 4-1 in the UFC as of early 2025, is gaining traction. From Zimbabwean poverty to the octagon, he’s a fan favorite with grit. The Covington fallout motivates him. If they cross paths again, at the PI or in a fight, he’s got something to prove.
