UFC welterweight fighter Colby Covington has expressed interest in fighting middleweight champion Sean Strickland, criticizing Strickland’s controversial views on women, while also dismissing the possibility of fighting Belal Muhammad, who he accused of race baiting.
Colby Covington is eyeing welterweight gold at UFC 296. Yet, he’s got bigger plans. He’s got his sights set on more titles, including dethroning reigning middleweight king Sean Strickland.
Covington’s fight with Leon Edwards is coming up on Saturday. He’s expressed a desire to “slap” Strickland, calling him “so f****** stupid”. But it’s not just trash talk. His beef with the outspoken 185-pounder runs deeper.
During UFC 296 media day on Wednesday, Covington called out Strickland. He criticized the UFC champion for his views on women. “Can you not all relate?” Covington asked. He referred to Strickland’s comment that women only belong in the kitchen.
Covington defended his friend Candace Owens, saying she’d run circles around Strickland. He called Strickland an “amateur jabroni”. He also claimed that Strickland was the easiest fight in the division. He suggested Strickland ran away from his division because he couldn’t cut it.
Strickland is known for making controversial statements. He’s said that “we need to put women back in the kitchen” and remove them from the workforce. He’s criticized women’s MMA and had a spat with former UFC champion Valentina Shevchenko.
Covington has taken up the cause, citing it as a reason for his issue with Strickland. But he’s not ready to move up to middleweight just yet. He believes 170 is the premiere division, the toughest in the UFC.
Covington has his sights set on a triple championship. He believes he can make 155 pounds and 185 pounds. He might target Sean first, then go down to 55. But he’s got unfinished business at 170. He wants to clear out the division first.
Assuming he beats Edwards and becomes undisputed champion, Covington will have a long line of contenders. Top of that list might be Belal Muhammad, who’s on a 10-fight undefeated streak. Muhammad is the backup for the main event on Saturday, but Covington isn’t interested in facing him.
Covington called Muhammad a racist. He criticized him for saying someone earned something because of their skin color. He said Muhammad hasn’t done anything to become a star. He promised that Muhammad won’t get a title shot.
Despite this, Covington contradicted himself. He said he’ll fight whoever the UFC puts in front of him. “There’s a reason why I’m in this position because I say yes, yes, yes to every single fight,” Covington said. He’s committed to making the biggest and best fights for the fans and the company.