Colby Covington had one piece of advice for Leon Edwards ahead of their potential UFC championship showdown.
Following Edwards’ victory over Kamaru Usman to retain the 170-pound crown on Saturday night, UFC president Dana White suggested that Covington would be the next man in line for a title opportunity. That much was signaled when ‘Chaos’ surprisingly weighed in as the official backup for the UFC 286 main event, but once White confirmed it, all hell began to break loose online.
Fans and fighters immediately began questioning why Colby Covington was next up considering his unimpressive 2-2 record in his last four fights which consist of losses against the man Leon Edwards just defeated in back-to-back fights. Not to mention Covington lacks a single win over any fighter in the current welterweight top ten. The reveal did not sit well with Edwards who suggested there was some “Dana White privilege” at play and denounced Covington as the next man up.
In an interview with Mike Heck of MMA Fighting, Colby Covington let loose on Edwards, calling him a variety of insults you might hear on a third-grade playground before offering up a piece of advice that would make Vince McMahon smile.
“Let me tell you one thing that I want to say to Leon, that mumbling f*cking idiot,” Covington said. “Such a f*cking clown. First off to Leon. Let me take my glasses off for this. This is the only piece of advice I am ever going to give you because next, you’re gonna get your a** whooped. There’s a thing that goes on Leon and shut your fumbling mouth, open your freakin’ stupid ears, and listen to the advice I give you because it’s the only advice I’m gonna give to you Leon. You don’t cross your boss and you will learn the hard way.”
It’s an interesting piece of advice coming from Colby Covington considering in 2019, ‘Chaos’ stated that he would take the UFC title belt and slap his boss in the face with it, should the UFC president attempt to wrap it around his waist following his first meeting with then-champion Kamaru Usman.
Of course, Covington suffered a brutal fifth-round knockout that evening, so the threats aimed at Dana White proved irrelevant.
Colby Covington believes Leon Edwards "will be stripped" if he doesn't agree to the fight 👀
"You’re not Conor McGregor, bro. You don’t get to call the shots, dude. You’re a nobody, dude.”
▶️ https://t.co/LdQ0SHZzI4 (via @MikeHeck_JR) pic.twitter.com/6nuLEJfdaI
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) March 21, 2023
Colby Covington Calls Belal Muhammad a Racist and Physically Threatens John Anik
Colby Covington was far from done after addressing Leon Edwards’ apprehension. The outspoken conservative then turned his attention to Belal Muhammad, a man that many believe is the rightful No. 1 contender to the welterweight title. Covington ripped into ‘Remember the Name’ after Muhammad suggested that ‘Chaos’ was gifted a title opportunity because “he’s white.”
“Belal Muhammad. Oh, let’s talk about Belal Muhammad,” Covington continued. “The racist right? You’re not talking Belal. You’re talking the racist. That guy is so beyond racist. Everything he does is racist. The guy’s a freakin’ joke. He’s saying I’m in this position because of my skin color. Because I’m white. That’s clear racism. I announce that the UFC and ESPN need to cut him from the panel. They can’t have a racist on their show and you know who’s hanging out and associating with that racist, John Anik. John Anik supports that racism so it’s a freaking joke.”
Covington then proceeded to lay into UFC play-by-play man John Anik, calling him a cheerleader and even going so far as to physically threaten Anik for his support of Belal Muhammad as the division’s most deserving contender.
“John Anik is supposed to be impartial. He’s supposed to be impartial. He’s supposed to have that headset. Supposed to be an interviewer and remain impartial. Don’t be a cheerleader. You want to be a cheerleader, let down the headset, pick up the pom-poms, go on the side, and be a cheerleader. You wanted to lick my freakin’ balls in London, but then you go back behind the stage and cheerlead for a racist. He associates with racism and Belal Muhammad. And John Anik, I don’t want your kids to grow up without a dad. Just realize you live in Boca, I live in Miami motherf*cker. You’re not too far from me so you better shut your f*cking mouth. You poke the bear, now the bear comes after you.”
Understand acutely why Colby Covington was the back-up but hard not to feel for @bullyb170! 9-fight unbeaten streak. Hasn't lost in 4-plus years. Just KO'd a previously undefeated fighter. The man deserves his respect and I don't say that b/c he hosts a podcast w/ my twin bro.
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) March 17, 2023
Again, it’s an interesting take to bring up Anik’s children while threatening physical violence against him. Covington himself is a year removed from suffering his own physical attack at the hands of Jorge Masvidal outside of a Miami steakhouse after taking things a bit too far with his bitter rival.