The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday returned to Newark, New Jersey, with a rare matinee show. UFC on ESPN 5 was headlined by a welterweight grudge match between former teammates turned enemies Colby Covington and Robbie Lawler. Their fight was billed as an evenly matched wrestler-versus-striker battle, but Covington dominated across much of the 25-minute encounter. The American Top Team export flexed an endless gas tank, as he set the all-time UFC record for attempted strikes (541) and significant strikes landed in a welterweight fight (179).
“I’ve always known it since I was a little kid that I have an extra lung,” Covington said after the fight. “My will is unbeatable. There isn’t a man alive that could keep up with that cardio. I build that cardio in the bedroom, and I keep it here in the UFC Octagon.”
Prior to the event, UFC President Dana White indicated that Covington would be awarded the first shot at current welterweight champion Kamaru Usman if he defeated Lawler. That seemed to end the debate that started after UFC 239, where Covington’s stablemate and former roommate, Jorge Masvidal, scored a five-second knockout on Ben Askren. The stunning win led many to believe that “Gamebred” had jumped Covington in line as the No. 1 contender at 170 pounds. However, the one-time NCAA All-American wrestler disagrees with anyone who does not believe he earned his crack at the gold, even though he was stripped of his interim title shortly after winning it in a unanimous decision over Rafael dos Anjos in June 2018.
“It’s the only fight to make,” Covington said. “If they make any other fight, it’s a mockery to the sport. It’s a mockery to the rankings. It doesn’t matter if you hate Tom Brady. If [the New England Patriots] win the AFC championship, they are going to the Super Bowl. I have one half of the belt. We need to unify this belt.”
The victory extended Covington’s winning streak to seven fights. Now sporting a 15-1 professional record, the former Oregon State University wrestler has defeated former UFC champions in consecutive bouts.
Covington, who has been an outspoken supporter of President Trump, was invited to the White House after he won the interim title. During the visit, he built a quick friendship with the president and his sons, Donald Jr. and Eric. The sons showed their support for Covington by attending his fight against Lawler. Afterward, Covington received a congratulatory call from the president.
“What else could I do?” Covington asked. “I’m the first fighter in the history of this sport to go to the White House and hang out in the Oval Office. That was history made a year ago. I made history again tonight. I’m the first fighter to ever bring the First Family [to the] front row. What else do I got to do? It was complete domination. Nobody has ever dominated Robbie Lawler like that in his whole career. If that doesn’t earn a title shot, I don’t know what does.”
Covington and Usman were on set for the ESPN+ post-fight show, where they got into a heated exchange, with each man claiming the other was scared to make the match.
“Security held Mary Fakenewsman (Usman) back,” Covington said. “It looks like he will be out with another year-long injury. He’s faking injuries; he’s faking narratives. He doesn’t want to fight me. He saw what I did to a man like Robbie Lawler. Cameron Usman is nothing but a b----.”
Covington drew widespread criticism after the fight due to comments he made during his interview with commentator Jon Anik. “Chaos” made an off-color joke about Matt Hughes, Lawler’s former training partner and longtime friend.
“Let’s talk about a lesson Robbie Lawler should have learned from Matt Hughes,” Covington said. “Get off the tracks when the train is coming.”
Hughes nearly died in 2017 after a train struck the passenger’s side of a pickup truck he was driving. The former welterweight champion was hospitalized for several months due to the injuries he sustained during the accident. Covington was asked if he had any regret about making the joke after the event.
“Not at all,” he said. “Did I say something offensive? The guy has done some pretty crappy stuff. He has lawsuits against his family, against his brothers. I just said the truth. I’m honest. I’m a little brutally honest and some people can’t handle it. People are worried about words, but we go into an Octagon to kill each other. Don’t be so sensitive, snowflakes.”
Lawler took the high road when asked about Covington’s comments.
“I couldn’t even hear what he said,” Lawler said. “Guys are crossing the line. It seems like the media love it. They are eating it up. That’s for you guys to write about and have opinions on. It’s not for me to have an opinion on. Everyone wants to see what I have to say about it. What do you guys have to say about it? It is what it is. I’m just worried about myself, as usual.”
Hughes quickly responded to Covington’s comments via social media.
“Not sure if Colby Covington should have used my accident as fuel for his post-fight trash talk, but that was a heck of a fight,” Hughes posted on his Twitter. “Nice win for @AmericanTopTeam and @ruthless_rl always puts on a good fight. Reminder though, this is the fighting world. People trash talk and you have to have thick skin.”
Current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, a former college teammate who once roomed with Covington, also took to social media to show his disappointment with the outcome of the main event.
“Robbie just let the whole world down,” Jones posted on his Twitter.
Covington returned fire.
“I think that’s hilarious,” Covington said. “Jonny Jones lets the whole world down. He’s a continuous screwup. I’ve always tried to be a lending hand for him. I’m trying to help him out, help him learn from his mistakes. He keeps screwing up.”
Covington, who seems to relish his role as the villain, does not appear to have any remorse over offending anyone who does not support him.
“This is just who I am.” Covington said. “I don’t care what people think of me. I am not here to make friends. I’m here to make money. If people have a problem with me, they can settle it with me in the cage. That’s not going to end well for them. As you can see, I’m the best welterweight, and I’m the best fighter on the planet right now.”