Former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington already has his pick for the upcoming welterweight championship bout.
Current champion Jack Della Maddalena is set to defend his title against former lightweight champ Islam Makhachev after defeating Belal Muhammad. The upcoming matchup is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated fights yet. The bout marks Maddalena’s first title defence, and he will enter the Octagon as the underdog, while Makhachev remains the fan favourite.
Despite the betting odds, Colby Covington believes Makhachev has the upper hand and will emerge victorious.
“It’s an interesting fight. I’m excited to see how it goes,” Covington said in an interview with Helen Yee. “Islam is a lightweight. He’s going to be a little smaller in the fight, but he’s a well-rounded fighter. So if he’s able to take down JDM and control him, he could definitely get the job done. But it’s going to be interesting to see how the size advantage plays a difference in the fight.”
“I saw the odds were pretty big. They favoured Makhachev like 3-1,” Covington added. “So I guess I’ve got to go with the odds if they’re going 3-1, just because JDM doesn’t have good takedown defence. But you never know. It’s a fight, and JDM has some good hands, so it should be an exciting fight for the fans.”
Although Colby Covington expects Islam Makhachev to win at UFC 322, he will be paying close attention to the fight. Covington believes the matchup remains intriguing and thinks Jack Della Maddalena could still pose problems for Makhachev.
