UFC veteran Matt Brown suspects that Colby Covington, who’s facing Leon Edwards for a third shot at the UFC title, might retire if he loses, given Covington’s inactivity and selectivity with opponents in recent years, though he also notes this is a winnable fight for Covington who brings a different style to the fight that could pose problems for Edwards.
Colby Covington is gearing up to become an undisputed UFC champion for the third time in December. He will face Leon Edwards in a match that many are labelling as a do-or-die moment for him, including the likes of veteran Matt Brown. One of the reasons that Brown believes it could be a pivotal moment for Covington is that he won his title shot without a long winning streak, and even without defeating anyone currently in the UFC’s top 15 in the 170-pound division.
After winning an interim title back in 2018, Covington fell short in two fights against Kamaru Usman. He’s been away from the UFC scene for nearly two years and has been selective about his opponents. Now, he’s been given another chance, this time against Edwards. His absence from the ring and discerning opponent choices have led Brown to suggest that if Covington loses to Edwards, it could potentially mark the end of his career. Expounding on this, Brown stated, “I have a hard time believing he’s going to continue fighting if he loses this fight.”
In Brown’s opinion, Covington’s approach to fighting sets him apart. He hasn’t fought for two years and may not be as passionate about fighting as others, such as Matt Brown, who professes to love fighting so much he wouldn’t quit even after a string of losses. “He’s not built like me, where I love fighting, and if I lost 10 in a row, I’d still want to fight,” Brown said of Covington. Following that, Brown noted that it would be challenging for Covington to regain title contention if he loses, given the upcoming strong contenders at UFC 296.
Among others, Covington will be up against Shavkat Rakhmonov, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, and Ian Machado Garry. Belal Muhammad, a strong contender widely regarded as the No. 1, is another threat to Covington’s chances, as he is currently riding a 10-fight winning streak. Despite these odds, Brown still isn’t certain whether Covington will necessarily face a loss, as he presents interesting challenges for Edwards. Regardless of the outcomes, one thing is clear, the upcoming fights promise to be gripping and significant for the future of these athletes.