MMA Fighting - Colby Covington Reacts To Title Shot Critics, Leon Edwards, Belal Muhammad

Episode Date: March 21, 2023

Colby Covington discusses the fallout from UFC 286, Dana White announcing that he's the next challenger for UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards, the critics of White's announcement, and more with M...MA Fighting's Mike Heck. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:52 And welcome back to the man who on Saturday after UFC 286, UFC President Dana White revealed that he will be next for the UFC Walter White title. It's been over a year since he's been with us. and days after the big announcement. Colby Chaos Covington back here on MMA fighting. Colby, how are you, my man? Thank you for doing this. I'm doing great, Mike.
Starting point is 00:01:14 It's good to talk to a real journalist, you know, not like some of those groupy fanboys that they have over at MMA fighting, you know, some real journalism, a guy respected since the beginning. So, you know, it's a beautiful thing. We're having a great talk today. And, you know, it's not going to be, you know,
Starting point is 00:01:29 it's a real journalism talk. These guys are groupy fan boys. They don't even have a real journalist. degree and they call themselves journalists. They're nothing more than groupies to have their opinions. Well, you have obviously inspired a lot of debate and opinions and perhaps controversy is a word that some people would use. But here we are. We're getting ready for a fight week. It is just a normal fight week, right? We have the media day and the press conference and then Friday rolls around and the official Wayans are going on. And I wake up bright and early
Starting point is 00:02:01 to get my kid ready for school. And what do I see? I jump on Twitter and I see that you have weighed in and it is going bananas. This thing is going nuts and nobody saw this coming. So when were you aware that this is a thing? Because there's kind of different conversations and different reports who knew, who didn't. But when were you made aware? How did this all come to be?
Starting point is 00:02:23 So I was made aware Tuesday night. They called me like 9, 10 p.m. I got a call with Hunter Campbell and he confirmed that I was going to be the official backup. if anybody pulled out, bad weight cut anything, that I would step in to fight for the World Championship, which rightfully so because I am the number two fighter in the world. So I'm the next man up, the next contender to fight, you know, the real people's champ, you know, King of Miami, Donald Trump's favorite fighter.
Starting point is 00:02:47 But that's a different story. But, you know, so I was made aware Tuesday night. I got on a flight Wednesday morning, didn't get to London until Thursday morning, had one day to cut the weight. I was 18 pounds over because I was indulging. You know, I was enjoying my food, you know, enjoying my time off, hanging out with the president, you know, Donald Trump and having a good time.
Starting point is 00:03:04 So I wasn't really thinking about fighting. I was lifting weights, like trying to put on some weight and stay heavy. So, you know, I could compete with these cheaters. So, you know, it was a, it was a beautiful opportunity. But it just showed how much of a professional I am, Mike, that I'm ready to go anytime, anywhere, anyone. And the UFC knows that. Was there, I didn't think you were going to hesitate, but was there any, like,
Starting point is 00:03:24 conversation needed to be had? Was there like, can I call you back? I'll probably do it, but let me just make sure. Or was this before you hung up with Hunter? I'm in, book me a flight, and I'm on it. Not even before I hung up with him. He knew as soon as he called, there was no hesitation at all. I said, absolutely.
Starting point is 00:03:39 Let's freaking do this. This is going to be the greatest storyline ever. I prepared my whole life for this moment. It's not just one training camp, two training camp. It's the work I put in my whole entire life, Mike, the blue collar work ethic that I've gotten to the grindstone and I've hammered away at it. So, you know, there wasn't any hesitation. As soon as Hunter called, they said, absolutely, let's do it.
Starting point is 00:03:56 When's the first flight I can get out? And he said, you know, in the morning, Wednesday morning and get to London Thursday. We got a day to cut the waste. So, you know, I proved to the UFC, you know, how much how valuable I am, how much of a professional I am, and how much of, you know, if something goes wrong, I'm here to save the day. I've been willing to fight the biggest and best fights in this company, as they've said that, you know, he's accepted everybody and wants to fight everybody in the world. So, you know, it's just, there was no hesitation right away. I told Hunter, let's do this, man. I can't wait. It was going to be a great storyline. Yeah, because we hadn't, I mean, we hadn't seen you since your last fight. And here we are. Just out of nowhere, we haven't really heard from. you at all and then, you know, just being back in the machine in London and there were some rumblings that maybe you would be there, but nobody actually knew for sure until John Anick actually said your name and you stepped on the scale and you're 170 on the nose. What's going through your mind as you were getting ready to walk out there? Are you like, oh, about to surprise some people right now? What were you thinking? Man, honestly, I felt at peace. You know, it's just,
Starting point is 00:04:55 there was no pressure on me. You know, no one even knew what was going on because like my friend, little Wayne says, real G's move in silence like lasagna. So I was moving in silence. I don't have to eat my sandwich, then take a picture every time I'm doing something. You know, I move, I'm moving in silence and my success makes the noise. So, you know, there was no pressure. It felt amazing, man. Like, I've never been that confident going into a fight week that I was going to win the world title. Like, I felt so prepared. I'm finally coming into my prime physically and mentally, and I feel better than ever. And it's just, honestly, the feelings were just no pressure and I was about to be the world champion. Yeah, and it was like the best kept secret in MMA because it's so hard to
Starting point is 00:05:32 keep these secrets. And even Dana was like surprised that he even got the buzz because they normally, he said they normally don't even announce the backups and that his own kid even called him. He's like, what the hell is Colby doing out there waiting for a title fight? So it was just very weird. And just the buzz behind it was massive because everybody was talk about it. And they, and they say it in pro wrestling and you used, you know, a rap lyric. But in pro wrestling, they say, we can't miss you if you don't leave. And it seems like for good or for bad, people freaking miss you. So were you surprised how much attention you just stepping on a scale got on Friday? No, not at all. You know, this is a culmination of years of hard work and and sacrifice
Starting point is 00:06:09 and blood sweat and tears. So, you know, the people, like you said, you know, how can someone miss someone if you don't go away? So I went away. I put in my hard work in silence. You know, I've been ready to fight everybody in the world and I've accepted every fight they've offered, which is why I was put in that position as the backup fighter ready to fight for the world title because I taking everything they've offered. And it's not my fault that didn't happen. It's not my fault that dog-faced motherfucker come shot, missed weight by nine pounds.
Starting point is 00:06:34 And he's making a joke and mockery at my division. Like you weren't even close, dude. You had the PI. You had millions of dollars of doctors in marketing and all this stuff put into you. And you're making a mockery. You're laughing on the scale. You're nine pounds over. You had the easiest fight in the division.
Starting point is 00:06:48 And they were building that up. You win that fight. You were going to get daddy. You weren't going to get the man, the king of the division. Colby Chaos Covington. But you couldn't do that. You were scared. And no,
Starting point is 00:06:57 you never fucking were offered a fight with me. That's fucking bullshit. You're lying on your religion. You're a fucking joke. And you're lucky you're not my division anymore. Now you have no say. The boss, Dana White, you know, uncle Ari Emanuel, uncle, you know, Hunter Campbell, those guys are in charge.
Starting point is 00:07:11 They're not going to let you fight it once anymore. You miss weight by nine pounds. It wasn't even close. And then he's laughing. So he was offered to you because I know Dana was trying to make that fight since like the Jacksonville card this past April. That was one of the ones on his mind. I wanted to do a big July card.
Starting point is 00:07:26 ABC with you at Hamzad. Bala Muhammad has also mentioned that your name came up to him as well. So when you say that you've said yes to everybody, like are those the two names that you were offered or were there other names in play as well? No, that's funny. You know, I was never offered a cum shot.
Starting point is 00:07:43 You know, he's lying through his fucking teeth, dude. I was ready to fight him. I accepted the UFC. They called and approached me. I said absolutely yes. Right away, let's do this. I'm going to end his hype. He's got no card.
Starting point is 00:07:53 It's easy fight for me. I told that to Dana White and Hunter Campbell. and they knew right away I was ready to fight, which is why I'm in this position. He was the unprofessional fucking idiot, dog-faced-looking motherfucker that couldn't make weight. They gave you a layup. They gave you the soy boy, Nate Diaz,
Starting point is 00:08:08 a guy that's done fighting, he's washed up. The easiest fight, and you couldn't make the weight, and you weren't even close. You're freaking nine pounds over. The guy's freaking trying to cut 40, 50 pounds to get to our weight class. I mean, it's a joke, dude. If I do that, I'd be fighting Henry Sehudo and Sean O'Malley. But I don't need to be a weight bully.
Starting point is 00:08:25 I fight in my natural weight. So it's just a fucking joke. And Balal Muhammad, oh, let's talk about Balah Muhammad. Mike, you're talking about the racist, right? You're not talking Balaw. You're talking the racist. That guy is so beyond racist. Like, everything he does is racist.
Starting point is 00:08:38 The guy's a freaking joke. He's saying, I'm in this position because of my skin color because I'm white. Mike, that's clear racism. I announced that the USCD and ESPN needed to cut him from the panel. They can't have a racist on their show. And you know who's hanging out and associated with that racist, John Anick. John Adig supports that racism. So it's a freaking joke.
Starting point is 00:08:58 And John Anick's supposed to be impartial, Mike. He's supposed to be impartial. He's supposed to have that headside. It's supposed to be an interviewer and remain impartial. Don't be a cheerleader. You want to be a cheerleader. Let down the headset, pick up the pom-poms, go on the side, be a cheerleader. So you wanted to lick my freaking balls in London.
Starting point is 00:09:14 Oh, Kobe, this, but then you want to go back behind the stage and cheerlead for a racist. So he associates with racism and Belaw Muhammad. And, you know, John Anick, dude, I've, I've, I've, don't want your kids to grow up without a dad. Just realize you live in Boca. I live in Miami, motherfucker. You're not too far for me. So you better shut your fucking mouth.
Starting point is 00:09:30 You poke the bear. Now you get the bear. It comes after you. Jeez, was not ready for that. But let's kind of go back to this past weekend if we could because, like I said, you stole a lot of the headlines coming in. And then you stole like all of the headlines coming out. Because like I said earlier, Dana White steps up to the podium after the main event,
Starting point is 00:09:49 says your next in line for Leon defeats Kamar, Uso, the main event via majority decision. did you know that announcement was coming? I mean, we saw the video of you jumping up and down when they announced the winner, and then Leon kind of nose sold you in the cage. But had you in Dana, had you in Hunter, had you guys already had that discussion that if Leon wins this fight, you're next? Absolutely. We had the discussion.
Starting point is 00:10:12 You know, they came out to me before the fight even started in the arena. And Hunter told me, hey, you're next if Leon wins. And which is why I was there in the first place. I'm the number two guy in the world. I'm next in line for the world title. I'm actually the biggest draw. only am I the next in line as the contender to fight for the world championship. I'm the biggest draw in the numbers for this division. I'm the world to wait king. There's no king.
Starting point is 00:10:32 Leon's not the king. He's a placeholder for me, for daddy. And the numbers showed, Mike. You look at the numbers out throughout the weekend. All I did was weigh in and I was the biggest draw. Like millions and millions of views. Those guys didn't attract shit. Both those guys can't draw money with a green cram and a white piece of paper. They don't draw flies as shit. They're on original. No charisma. Both of them are a fucking jump. And let me tell you one thing, Mike, that I want say to Leon, that mumbling fucking idiot, such a fucking cloud. First off to Leon, let me take off these glasses for this. Leon, this is the only piece of advice that I'm ever going to give you, only, only, because next you're going to get your ass whoops. There's a thing that goes on,
Starting point is 00:11:09 Leon, and shut your fumbling mouth, list open your freaking stupid ears and listen to the advice I give. Because this is only advice somebody to give to you, Leon. You don't cross your boss, and you will learn the hard way. Remember that, Leon. It's only advice I'm giving you. You don't Don't cross your boss. So I assume perhaps that is coming from earlier today. He did an interview on the MMA hour and he said if they offer me the fight, I'm not going to take it. And I actually have this ready to go.
Starting point is 00:11:39 His exact quote was, I definitely have a say, listen, he ain't getting a title shot next fight. Look at the road I had to take to get there. There's no way you're getting beat twice by the guy that I just beat twice. went out, want to fight, then sit out for a year and a half, not even tweeting or nothing, just go missing for a year, and then randomly pops up at the way ends. And it's like, okay, he's fighting for the title next. It makes no sense at all. So let's see how it plays out.
Starting point is 00:12:05 He has to go out there and earn his way like I had to do. Hamzat and me were calling each other out for years. This is a guy that I got matched up with three times in a row. I took the Shemaya fight. Covington didn't take the fight. And he's getting rewarded for not taking the fight. when it was me, I got removed from the rankings. So Dana White privilege is definitely real.
Starting point is 00:12:27 I assume that's the quote that you're responding to. Yes, Mike. And let me say to Leon, good luck with that, Jr. Good luck with that. First off, you don't make the calls. You haven't even defended the title. Like, you fought a shell of inform herself from Usman, who obviously was doing too much filming for Wakanda is forever for the Black Panther movie
Starting point is 00:12:46 that he wasn't focused. And he's just past the hill. He's one foot out, one foot in. And you see you saying in interviews, he wants to retire. So, you know, it was the wars that added up from me. And good job, Leon, you beat his man. I beat him, too, a Madison Square Garden last November. So, you know, we did the same exact thing.
Starting point is 00:13:01 So, you know, it's just funny, man. Like, all the fucking fans are trying to go out there, Dana, Dana, no, you can't let him get the title shot. Dude, you think Dana's going to listen to all these fucking pathetic journalists? They're not even journalists. They're fucking groupies. Like I said, you think Dana's going to listen to them when he was trying to get him canceled? Like all these journalists wanted to get Dana canceled for the Power Slap League, which, by the way, Power Slap is doing phenomenal jobs. Crazy ratings.
Starting point is 00:13:24 So, good job to Dana on the UFC on that. But they're trying to get him cast for that. You think Dana's going to listen to some of these fucking idiot, so-called journalists? Like, it's just fucking hilarious, dude. Like, everybody knows who the drawl is. My haters have to accept it now. And the reason they're so mad, Mike, is because all my haters know I'm about to come. I'm a disputed champion of the world.
Starting point is 00:13:44 And it's the reason, Leon, I was looking for easy fights. He knows he's going to get beat. by me and he's afraid. What did you actually think of the fight? Because you were cage side for it. And like you said, we saw your reaction. You were excited that he won. We were doing our watch party.
Starting point is 00:13:57 So I haven't actually gone back and rewatched the fight. But watching it live with like 800 things going on around me, I scored it the same way the two judges who scored it for Leon scored it. 48, 46. I gave him one, four, and five. I gave two to Usman. Three was a nine, nine because of the fence grab and the point being taken, which I'm so excited to see a referee actually take a point
Starting point is 00:14:16 because we've been talking about this for years, coaches should have fighters like grabbing fences during training because the referees never call it. Herb Dean takes the point. That's beside the point. It's a whole other conversation we could have. But how did you score watching it live? Did you score it the same or did you score to draw?
Starting point is 00:14:33 Yeah, I mean, I wasn't scoring it, but, you know, it was clear that Leon won. But he's the biggest fucking cheater in all the fucking sport. Dude, he comes out there. He pokes him in the eye. He hits him in the nuts. He freaking, you know, grabs the fence. And then he grabs the fence and Herb Dean stops it and takes a point away. And then he tries to deny it to Herb and the world.
Starting point is 00:14:51 Like the whole world didn't just see it. That's how fucking dumb Leon Scott is. He's not a fucking champion. He's a placeholder. And there's a reason for that. Like the guy doesn't know how to fucking how to do business. There's a reason he's not a draw. No one cares.
Starting point is 00:15:03 So, you know, I mean, yeah, he won the fight. But there was a shell of his former self. And it's funny because there was multiple people were like, dude, that's not the same Usman. Like he's definitely, he's two feet out the door now. Like he was one foot in, one foot out before. he's completely out. He's cashed out. He's made his money. He's not hungry anymore. So, you know, Leon, it wasn't anything special, that's for sure. But all the cheating going on,
Starting point is 00:15:23 fucking what a joke. Dude, Edward's his or hands. Leon Scott, man, poking in the eye, freaking, you know, nut grab. Fucking grabbing the fucking gloves. Grabbing the gloves up against the cage. Like, like, that's why they took a point away because he was grabbing the gloves, like, multiple times than first shot. And then he goes and fucking grab the fence with two hands. Like, the guy's a fucking cheater. And Leon Scott, let me tell you, you can grab the fence all you want when we fight. It's not going to make a difference. You're getting fucking smoked. You're getting exposed. And I'm going to come to an undisputed champion. I'm already the people's champion. I'm already America's champion. I'm already fucking Donald Trump's favorite fighter.
Starting point is 00:15:54 I'm already the king of Miami. So now it's time to come back and take over my division again. So I host a show. It's like three days a week on our Twitter feed. And people ask about you all the time. And this wasn't particularly about you, but there was a lot of like what's next hypothetical questions that came into the fight. Like what if Kamaro wins? like who gets the next shot? What if Leon wins who gets the next shot? And a lot of newer fans gave me a bunch of crap because I said that do not be surprised
Starting point is 00:16:21 if Colby Covington is in play because that's just the way it works. Like this is how the UFC has done it for a long time. And obviously, Balala's out there. He's been unbeaten over nine fights, hasn't lost it over four years. He's got a case. The racist.
Starting point is 00:16:35 He's talking about the racist, right? Unbeat against nobody's. He hasn't fucking been in a marquee fight on a pay-per-view headlining against top five guys. He's beating prospects. He's beating, you know, guys outside the top fives. Nobody's. Like, he's beating washed up guys.
Starting point is 00:16:48 Like, he's a fucking nobody. He was melted by Vicente Luke, melted by, you know, Jeff Nell, melted by a nobody, Alan Jovan and some other people. The guy's a nobody. There's a reason he's not in this position. He's complaining.
Starting point is 00:16:59 He's a racist, first off. All he does is still race him is fucking disgusting. But besides being racist, he hasn't earned this right, Mike. This is not a sport. This is not a game. This is the ultimate entertainment. business. This is about making money for the company of the UFC. That's what I've done continuously
Starting point is 00:17:16 time in and time in and out. I stayed ready, ready for the moment, one world championship, done big business for this company. I'm in this position, the next ranked contender in the world for a reason. There's a reason I was the backup fighter because I've accepted every single fight they've offered and I've stayed ready on a moment's notice to fight anybody in the world. Now, there is a time, Colby, when we started doing interviews where you were having a tough time getting these big fights and you know, you were holding freaking signs out in the street, for these fights. And you just gave Leon Edwards some advice. And now Bilal Muhammad is in not the same kind of situation, but a similar type of situation. Because even if he fights
Starting point is 00:17:53 Shafkat Rahmanov, which is the fight they're apparently targeting for Bilal, there is still no guarantee he gets a title shot. That's just the nature of the division and kind of the nature of the business right now. So what is your advice to Bilal Muhammad? Because he's obviously not happy about this. And if we're looking at this from a meritocratic perspective, you can't really blame him. Can't blame him, Mike. He hasn't done anything to earn anything against big fights. The racist, below Mohammed, should go out there and stop spewing racism. That's what he should do. And he should go out there and make himself likable and become a star. He's not
Starting point is 00:18:26 a star. He's and nobody, dude, because, you know, the guy spewing racism and he's spilling hate out there. Like, that's not what this country needs right now. We need fucking unity. We need fucking diversity. We need fucking to come together and not spew racism or fucking religion. like that has nothing to do with this. So the guy needs to go win the big fights. I don't care. We've all been on long winning streets. I've been on long winning streaks.
Starting point is 00:18:46 You know, seven, eight, nine fights. Whatever, dude. We've all fucking done it, dude. But you need to become a star because this is a business. This is not a game. This is the entertainment business. And shitting on Dana on the UFC and what he's doing right now. He's going the wrong route.
Starting point is 00:19:00 Like I said, then Leon, he should take the same advice. You don't cross the boss. It's a universal known saying you don't cross your boss, Mike. You said you were hoping for July to do this fight, international fight week. Is that the time frame that you are preparing for right now? It's what I'm preparing for, but everybody knows now that I stay ready on a moment's notice.
Starting point is 00:19:21 It could be Miami. I hope the main event in Miami falls through all pay-per-view there. I'm the king of a Miami. I do need to show up. You know, shout out to, you know, the law enforcement, you know, the canine unit in Miami Beach, my boy Charlie Weiss, you know, Chief Rich Clements.
Starting point is 00:19:36 So, you know, I hope I stay ready. You know, I was ready to fight last weekend in London on a moment's notice. Either guy didn't matter because I know I'm the best in the world. So I can fight either style. It doesn't matter. So, you know, I'm ready whenever. But I think now, Mike, now the way it's shaping up international fight week. It's the biggest scene.
Starting point is 00:19:54 It's the biggest spectacle. And they're talking about John Jones and Steve. Who doesn't want to see me on a stage? My old buddy, old pal, John Jones. You know how funny that would be on stage at the press conference, Mike? It's perfect. It's money. Would you be cool being.
Starting point is 00:20:09 the co-main event to that fight over headlining or headlining a different card with Leon? I'm cool with the UFC knows I'm cool with whatever, you know, co-headlining, main event, whatever they want me to do. I'm an ultimate business man, Mike. I show up, I make way. I never miss weight. I don't miss weight by nine pounds like that dog-face looking motherfucker cum shot. So, you know, I make my weight, championship weight on a day's notice, literally days notice. I got out there one day to cut 18 pounds. I didn't make excuses. So I stay ready whenever, out, you know, if they want me to co-main event, let's do a co-main event and international fight week on the biggest spectacle, or whenever they want.
Starting point is 00:20:46 They want it June, August, you know, May, April, whenever the UFC wants, you know, I'll leave that up to the big bosses, Ari Emanuel, which, by the way, he's a fantastic owner, you know, of the UFC. Like, big shout out to Ari. I've been a big fan of him ever since the entourage. So much love to Ari, you know, Emmanuel and Hunter Camel and Dana White. We'll just leave it up to the big bosses because they decide. No one else decides, not Leon, not these brutal.
Starting point is 00:21:09 groupie journalists that are all fanboys that are crying in their tears, which by the way is absolutely hilarious, Mike, because if you're asking how I'm doing, I'm pulling great because all my haters are miserable right now, miserable. It's amazing. It's a great day, Mike. What do you think happens if Leon doesn't take the fight? What if he puts his feet in the sand says, no, like, I need to see Colby get another win. Do you think he gets stripped? He gets stripped, Mike. He will get stripped. He's not the draw on this division, Mike. I'm the drop. Look at the numbers from over the weekend.
Starting point is 00:21:42 I didn't even fight. And my numbers powered over the main event. Those fucking nobodies, you know? Leon Scott and Marty fake news. No one wants to see those guys. They're stupid. Listen to the shit they say. You know, Leon's fumbling the whole time,
Starting point is 00:21:55 mumbling out of his fucking mouth. He's just, there's no personality, no charisma. Same thing with Marty, you know. Marty needs a belt to be relevant. He's not relevant. Neither one of them are relevant. So for Leon to sit there and act like he's Connor McGregory, You're not Connor McGregor, bro.
Starting point is 00:22:09 You don't get to call the shots, dude. Like, you're a nobody, dude. Like, shout out to Connor and what he's done. Like, he's done great things in this sport. He's the biggest straw, the things he did on predictable. And shout out to him, especially because of his charity that, you know, he's giving back the first responders in America. God bless Connor, man.
Starting point is 00:22:24 He's doing big things. How can you not like that and respect the guy doing that? So shout out to Connor. I mean, Connor's fucking, you know, one of the greatest fighters of all time. And what he's done is cannot be, you know, knocking a guy out under 10 seconds in a title fight. He's unpredictable. So you don't know what you're going to get with that guy.
Starting point is 00:22:41 That guy is dangerous. Like he's, you can't take that guy lightly. So shout out Connor. And yeah, Leon, you haven't even defended your belt yet. Like that wasn't even barely a title defense. You got a decision in London,
Starting point is 00:22:53 which the Brits always get decisions in London when London judges are on the deck. And so it wasn't impressive. You didn't finish him. That's a, that's your show of it, former self and Marty. So sit there, Leon, fucking take what you're going to take.
Starting point is 00:23:07 because you're everything you work for your whole entire life is about to get taken by me, man. And you have no choice. You're not a draw. You're fucking nobody. You're irrelevant. What do you think of Connor saying that he wants a title fight at 170? If he beats Michael Chandler, he wants a title shot at 170. And if they make this fight between you and Leon, by the time that fight happens, it could line things up perfectly.
Starting point is 00:23:28 So you come in as a guy who wasn't even supposed to fight in London. You step in, you weigh in, you watch the fight from the crowd, you get a title fight. And then once you win the belt, you could somehow find yourself fighting Connor McGregor in a just a gigantic red panty night kind of matchup for your first title defense. Like, everything's just kind of falling in in weird places. Is it not? Like, it's all coming together in such a weird way that if you fight Leon and win, your next, you can fight freaking Connor McGregor in your first title defense the way this is all shaping up. You know, this is God's plan, Mike. This is destiny, man.
Starting point is 00:24:04 And this is the journey that I've been on, you know, through my blue collar work ethic, through America, the kid achieving the American dream and working my butt off. You know, when everybody doubted me, when everybody told me I wouldn't do it, you know, now look where I'm at, you know, it's the biggest and best fights. Like, I'm the draw. I'm the A side in the World War II Division now. Like, everybody knows it. Everybody knows who's the best fighter in the world is the undisputed champ. That's me. It's Colby Chaos Covington.
Starting point is 00:24:28 So, you know, it's a beautiful thing. I'm truly blessed Mike to be in this position. and to collide with Connor, I mean, it would be the biggest how to fight in the history of the company. We're talking 2 million buys, pay-per-view buys plus. I mean, it would be catastrophic. It would be incredible, you know, and it would be the biggest business the UFC could ever do.
Starting point is 00:24:47 And especially it's a beautiful timing right before Donald Trump's going to take back the office in 2024 right before the campaign show. So, you know, it's just the timing of life is working out perfect. And this is God's plan, Mike. That's what I've got to say. It's destiny. where does kamar uzden go from here because you guys have spent almost an hour in the cage together and i'm sure at some point that's when you would like to run back one more time you even pitched
Starting point is 00:25:09 a best of seven series between the two of you guys at one point so where do you think he goes from this loss yeah honestly i think he retires now you can see in the fight he it's not the same marty of the past you know he's just not hungry man he made a lot of money with the fights that he had you know the george fight the two fights with me that i sold because no one gave a fuck about him because, you know, he doesn't have, his personalities have a wet mop in the corner. So, you know, like I made the guy rich. And I beat his ass in Madison Square Garden, Mike, so I don't really need anything to prove. Deep down aside, I know I proved I beat him in Madison Square Garden.
Starting point is 00:25:41 Every fan knew it in the arena. They were all screwing my name. All after the fight, they all said I won at least three to two. But a lot of them thought I won four-one. Every round except the second. He won one round out of a five-round fight. He got beat. So deep down in my heart, I can live with that forever, Mike.
Starting point is 00:25:54 I already know I beat him. So now it's on to the next order of business. It's Leon Scott. Edward's his hand. He's going to get destroyed this summer international fight week, and it's going to be expectable. You know, the biggest and best business is what I do every time I step in there. You're probably going to see my friend Donald Trump at the fight, you know,
Starting point is 00:26:09 coming in, putting the belt around my waist. And that's going to be that. It's going to be fucking amazing. If you think the nerd tears are flowing now, Mike, oh, my God. All I've got to say, I'm a family, man. God bless you for being a father. And I just want to say to help you and your family, like, build an arc now. Because the flow is going to be catastrophic, catastrophic of,
Starting point is 00:26:28 tiers tiers all over the world when I win the undisputed championship. Oh, man. Well, Colby, congratulations on getting the fight. I mean, what else can I say? You showed up, you stepped on the scale. You made 170 like a pro and you got yourself a title fight it appears. So we'll keep an eye off for when that's actually going to happen. It's good to have you back on the scene. I think the space is much more exciting. It's a much more unique space when Colby Covington is involved. And like I said, congratulations. It was good to see you on the television. the screen in London, and I really appreciate you jumping on just a couple days after flying back home, my man. So thank you very much, and we'll see what happens when you get inside that
Starting point is 00:27:06 Octagon fight for a world title. Great talking to you, Mike, unlike your fake journalists, you know, colleagues that you work with, but you're a real journalist. And shout out to my dentist, you know, Chris Ramsey, at Ritter Ramsey freaking got the best smile on the game. Shout out to my boy, Louisa Gerardi over at Satoria Gerardi, keeping me suited and booing and fresh in all my fights. And shout out to all the people that I fight for. First responders, law enforcement, military. God bless America. God bless the Trumps.
Starting point is 00:27:33 And, you know, can't wait to show you what's next. Mike, you guys, I'm going to shock the world again. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network.

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