Chael Sonnen thinks Colby Covington is playing chess while Ian Garry is playing checkers.
There has been a ton of banter between the two welterweight contenders as they go about their next fight with Garry wanting the former title challenger to sign a bout agreement for UFC 303 on June 29th. Covington, in contrast, says no contract has been brought to his attention at this time.
Sonnen Weighs In On The Covington-Garry Rivalry
That may be hard to believe, given how much work Garry and Covington have already put in to promote their potential fight. While others are quick to put the blame on “Chaos” for the fight not happening, fellow three-time challenger Sonnen has given Covington his props for how he’s handling Garry.
“It was such an incredible troll,” Sonnen said of Covington on ‘The MMA Hour‘. “This is all Colby’s idea. Colby calls for the Garry fight, Garry accepts. Generally, you’re all done. Put your swords down. Pick your pens up. Sign the paperwork, and we’re done. Colby then denies it. Colby tells him no. Colby puts out a list of demands, a list of demands to Garry who accepted the challenge. This was some of his finest work.”
‘A Masterful Move By One Of The Greats’
Covington has went back-and-forth with wins and losses in his last five fights, but one thing has remained the same throughout and that’s his brash personality in front of the cameras. In 2017, the American turned “heel” and never looked back, quickly becoming one of the UFC’s most outspoken and controversial fighters today.
Kicking it old school, former UFC fighter Sonnen can relate to “Chaos” from his exciting run in the Octagon. Sonnen gives Covington his flowers for his fight promotion and believes the MMA fanbase will follow suit, only after Covington’s fighting career comes to a close.
“You see Colby out there on the yacht where he’s in the suit, he’s on the yacht and he’s got his own camera crew. He’s got the backdrop, and he’s addressing what Garry’s gonna need to do. Garry’s looking around going, ‘What I need to do? It was your idea! I’ve agreed to your idea.’ It was a masterful move by one of the greats. When Colby Covington is gone, you are gonna miss him. Mark my words.”
Is UFC 303 A Possibility?
Going back to the fight between Covington and Garry itself, there are many questions to be answered on if it will happen and if so, when? Garry had pushed for it to be the co-headliner of UFC 303 but a lot of red flags were raised when the UFC officially announced that Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. would be the co-main event of the International Fight Week card.
Still, Sonnen hasn’t lost hope that Covington vs. Garry will play second fiddle to Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler atop UFC 303 on June 29th.
“Of course, he’ll fight Garry,” Sonnen said confidently. “I like June 29th because if they don’t do it on 29th, they’re gonna end up in a main event spot. I don’t like that. Look, Colby Covington’s career is a absolute riddle… He was the clearest #1 contender in any division and could not get a title shot. Now the answer to that is because he’d already had two. I get it. But, he beat the BMF champion, but he did not become BMF champion. He was the interim champion, who one morning woke up without losing and was no longer the interim champion…
“I like him on June 29th. I’d like him to have the attention. I’d like him to have those other guys on the stage. Let’s see who the real man around here is. And above all else, I don’t like the idea that they’re getting him for 5 rounds and not putting his straps up. Put him on the 29th. Let Conor and Chandler do the heavy lifting.”
Will see Colby Covington and Ian Garry collide at UFC 303 this summer?
