Khamzat Chimaev is hitting back at Colby Covington after his recent remarks.
This past Saturday, UFC 286 was held in London, England. The main event featured a welterweight title fight between champion Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman. Edwards defeated Usman by decision to retain his belt. Dana White spoke to the media following the event as he sometimes does and gave some updates on the division.
White announced that Colby Covington would be next for Edwards. Covington was on hand in London as a backup fighter for the main event. He spoke to the media as well and had some choice words for Khamzat Chimaev. He called him “unprofessional” and criticized him for his recent missed weight at UFC 279. White also mentioned that Chimaev would be fighting at middleweight going forwards but the change of weight class did not stop the continued animosity between Chimaev and Covington.
Khamzat Chimaev says he accepted a fight with Colby Covington four times
Chimaev took to YouTube to respond to the callouts by Covington. He claims that he accepted a fight with him and it was Covington that backed out.
“Colby is lying he doesn’t want to fight,” he said. “I swear with everything I have I swear I accept the fight four times. All the Muslims understand I swear with the Koran, I get four times call we’re gonna fight, I say yes. I have conversation with Sean Shelby so we’re gonna fight with this guy but it’s never happened.”
Chimaev went on to explain that even though they are now in different weight classes that does not matter to him. He urged Covington to move up and face him at middleweight. He mentioned an almost interaction with him at the UFC Performance Institute but claims Covington ran away.
“Here is normal, you know, you can lie in press conference, for me I can’t lie,” he said. “For people I’m the real I’m who I am if they don’t like. Why that guy played too much? I see in the PI. When I see him, he see me, when I turn around you run somewhere I didn’t see him anymore…I fight everybody.”
With Covington being promised the next shot at the title it seems very unlikely that these two will fight anytime soon. Chimaev seems to be on his way to a title shot at middleweight, but if Covington were to beat Edwards when they fight perhaps Covington vs. Chimaev for the 170-pound belt could be arranged.
