Colby Covington sees himself not solely competing at 185 kilos, however beating the elite of the division.
In an interview with Submission Radio, the longtime welterweight mentioned his subsequent transfer, which may embody a bounce up in weight and a conflict with former middleweight champion Sean Strickland. Covington defined why he prefers a transfer to middleweight quite than a drop to light-weight, and named Strickland as a beatable opponent when requested who he’d prefer to face in that division.
“The Sean Strickland battle is at all times attention-grabbing,” Covington mentioned. “He’s had his his issues to say about me up to now. I don’t assume he’s something particular. He’s received a jab, he’s received a entrance kick, however in addition to that you just shut these these weapons down and he’s very restricted. He’s a cardio fighter. He’s only a cardio kickboxer, basically. I don’t see any threats out of Sean Strickland and it’s an entertaining battle that I’d entertain sooner or later. We’ll see.”
Strickland’s dance card is at the moment full as he has an opportunity to regain the middleweight belt when he rematches Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312 on Feb. 8 in Sydney.
It’s not only a battle with Strickland that has Covington contemplating a division change. “Chaos” has fought a who’s who of notable welterweights throughout his UFC run, capturing an interim title in 2018 and thrice difficult for undisputed gold. Regardless that he’d be smaller than the vast majority of the promotion’s middleweights, Covington believes he can comply with within the footsteps of Strickland and Robert Whittaker, two former 170ers who grew to become champions at 185 kilos.
“Actually, ‘85 is intriguing,” Covington mentioned. “I feel it might be form of cool to go up there with the narrative like, ‘Oh, this man’s a small ‘70. He’s going to go as much as ‘85 and tackle a fair greater problem.’ So there’s a risk. I’m at all times searching for the largest and greatest fights, so we’ll see. I’m unsure, we’ll see what’s on the desk, who’s scorching on the time. I’m simply at all times searching for the largest and greatest fights. So it doesn’t matter. Any weight class.”
“I do know these guys are quite a bit slower,” Covington added. “That’s why guys that depart welterweight and so they go to middleweight have a lot success. These guys like Whittaker, who grew to become champion, a man like Sean Strickland, who grew to become a champion. They depart this welterweight the place these guys are quick, they’ve good cardio. These are the most effective athletes on the planet on this weight class. In order that they go up and so they have a lot success at middleweight as a result of the middleweights are unathletic. They’re gradual. So there’s something to be mentioned with that, what kind of coaching you’ll do. I positively wish to placed on some muscle, however I additionally wish to be environment friendly with the velocity and ensuring I’m actually fast twitch, able to pounce on these guys.”
Ought to Covington keep put in his division, it’s unclear who’s left for him to battle, although he’s open to welcoming 155-pound veterans Paddy Pimblett and Michael Chandler to the burden class.
“There’s a few enjoyable choices,” Covington mentioned. “I don’t wish to make any callouts. I would like the UFC and followers to determine who they need me to go subsequent. I feel there’s some intriguing fights on the market. I simply need the largest and greatest fights. Everyone is aware of I’m the marquee. That battle that I confirmed up on two weeks’ discover with no coaching camp, have a look at what it finally ends up being. It finally ends up being the very best gate in North American historical past for a Combat Night time, in order that’s what occurs when Colby Covington is on the marquee and he reveals up. He’s the largest star within the division. Colby Covington is the premier for the welterweight division.
“So I solely need the premier in greatest and greatest fights, so whoever that’s, I don’t know, I’m going to let Hunter Campbell determine that. … There’s a few guys on the market. Paddy Pimblett’s at all times an choice, he’s an enormous title and he’s been operating his mouth about me, so I’d prefer to settle that. Michael Chandler’s at all times a risk, he’s ran his mouth.”
