Welterweight Colby Covington says he put himself up to battle Shavkat Rakhmonov after his opportune opponent, Belal Muhammad, withdrew due to an infection.
Multiple-time title challenger Colby Covington revealed that he offered to battle Rakhmonov, but no feedback has been given yet. The fighter believes the UFC is working on something else. Covington had called out Belal after his win over Leon Edwards, but he didn’t get the fight he wanted. The fighter believed this opportunity could have been a good way for the UFC to redeem him, but the fight was not meant to be. Covington believes the promotion went for someone who pulls views, and he wasn’t selected.
“I offered. And, I told the UFC that I was willing to step up to the plate,” Covington told Submission Radio. “I would love to save the show and put on a good show for the fans. They pay their hard-earned money for big megafights. They need a megafight. That’s not a mega fight. They need someone who is going to put asses in seats and entertain people, so I was excited. I wanted the fight, and I asked for it but I think they have other plans.”
“I can walk him down and pressure him, and he’s not going to like my pressure,” Covington said. “He doesn’t do very well with southpaws. We saw how he did with the busboy, Geoff Neal. That was a very competitive fight. He hasn’t fought a top, top contender yet. He’s fought some gatekeepers of the division, some guys on the cusp of the top 10, but he’s never fought a champion like me – a guy who’s going to come at him for five straight rounds and just walk him down.
“I match up well. He stands very tall. I don’t see anything special with him. He has some good submissions. He’s slick, but that’s when he can control the wrestling. He’s not going to control the wrestling on me, so I think I can beat him pretty easily, and I think it’s a favorable fight, and it’s a fight that I want in the future whether he wins or loses in December.”
Covington says he contacted the promotion, but they refused his offer because they believe Usman is a better potential replacement.
“I was very tempted. If the UFC would’ve called me, they know I’m a game-time player. I love doing the biggest and best business for the company… Looks like they’re going for a different route. They’re going to potentially go with the Usman and sh*trat [Shavkat] fight. Good on them, that’s okay. I’m right there, still. I beat someone, I’m right back in the [title] conversation. I love that.”
