Colby Covington fell to 2-4 in his previous six appearances when a ugly lower stopped a combat he was shedding in lopsided style to Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa. It was truly his first loss in a non-title bout since 2015, however the at all times outspoken welterweight was granted his two most up-to-date championship alternatives with wins over fighters with a mixed 0-8 file throughout 16 current fights.
Whereas he scoffed on the stoppage in his first feedback addressing the loss, Covington wasn’t having one of the best evening on the workplace no matter how his combat ended. Together with his thirty seventh birthday approaching in early 2025, it’s attainable Covington’s newest loss could have signaled the top of his run as an elite welterweight.
Fellow UFC veteran Matt Brown argues that point most likely handed lengthy earlier than Saturday evening in Tampa.
“It’s arduous to argue he’s actually been elite for some time,” Brown stated on the most recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Author. “He hasn’t performed something elite for a very long time. I’m not even certain if the door was already closed. I assumed this was form of his likelihood to point out that he’s nonetheless an elite welterweight, and he didn’t move the check. I feel that door may need already been closed is the one caveat to that. We’ll see.
“I assume the query is whether or not he retires. It’s not even whether or not he’s an elite welterweight anymore. I feel that reply’s fairly clear. Is he going to stay round? Is he going to maintain combating? As a result of he’s form of lived off of his shtick extra so than his performances, proper?”
Previous to 2017, Covington was considered a stable prospect, however he didn’t make a lot noise and later claimed the UFC instructed him he was probably not going to be re-signed along with his contract set to run out. So Covington altered his strategy and continued successful fights however abruptly turned one of many loudest trash-talkers within the recreation. He attacked opponents, their dwelling nations, and even burned bridges with former coaching companions and teammates.
In recent times, Covington has grow to be synonymous for his unflinching assist of President-elect Donald Trump, which has virtually grow to be his id as a lot as what he’s performed in his combat profession. That earned him an invitation to Trump’s election evening celebration however didn’t assist him cope with a younger, hungry contender like Buckley this previous Saturday evening.
“There’s alternative ways to construct your identify,” Brown stated. “Colby form of went the Chael Sonnen route. Discuss the shit, get on the market and get individuals speaking about you so get the numbers and that’s the way you earn the shot otherwise you even have the Belal Muhammad route the place he doesn’t actually discuss loads of shit or something however he goes on the market and performs. Colby did the speaking route. I feel that’s most likely what he’ll be remembered for.
“Does he [still] have that starvation? I assumed that answered the query final weekend. I didn’t see the starvation. He didn’t argue the physician’s stoppage. It simply didn’t seem like he even wished to be there, and he was like, ‘Cool, I misplaced for a lower, that’s higher than a TKO or a knockout or a referee’s stoppage and that’s a straightforward method to make excuses about how I may have come again and gained that combat.’ It’s unlucky when these issues begin going by means of your thoughts. That’s when you understand it’s time to cease.”
Including to Covington’s woes after UFC Tampa is the actual fact he’s been unable to seize gold in three previous title fights supplied to him.
Whereas he did go to warfare with Kamaru Usman on two separate events, Covington’s most up-to-date title combat ended with him shedding a reasonably lopsided resolution in a lackluster outing towards Leon Edwards. He later revealed he suffered a damaged foot early within the combat after which instructed reporters forward of UFC Tampa he was additionally affected by altitude illness after coaching in excessive altitude performed a component in his efficiency.
All these issues could also be true however Brown says the final time Covington gained a combat and seemed really spectacular doing it dates all the best way again to 2019 and an entire lot has occurred since then.
“The one one which I might say was in regards to the combat was the Robbie Lawler combat,” Brown stated. “That Colby Covington seemed like he may beat nearly anyone that day. That was an ideal efficiency. Simply the amount that he placed on, the tempo, the cardio, he seemed wonderful. Didn’t actually take any huge pictures that I bear in mind or something. However we solely noticed that after. That’s the one time we noticed him placed on an incredible efficiency.
“I simply marvel if he began to depend on his shtick just a little bit an excessive amount of and forgot about I’ve bought to remain within the gymnasium and prepare, and I’ve bought to push that tempo like that. It’s form of a tragedy as a result of I assumed he was a very nice prospect. I assumed he may have performed some huge issues. I assumed he may have placed on some nice fights with lots of people, however my feeling, he simply bought caught up along with his shtick an excessive amount of and form of relied on that.”
Covington hasn’t given any indication he’s considering retirement, however there’s additionally no telling when he’ll be seen once more. After shedding to Edwards in December 2023, Covington didn’t make his subsequent look within the UFC till this previous weekend for the combat towards Buckley.
Brown can’t say for sure if Covington can flip issues round however based mostly on his newest loss, it’s robust for him to consider issues are going to get significantly better shifting ahead.
“I hope one of the best for Colby,” Brown stated. “I hope that he comes again higher. I hope he learns his classes from this and comes again higher. I hope that he will get again within the gymnasium, trains arduous, I feel he’s nonetheless bought fights left in him, however he’s bought to crack down, get again within the gymnasium, and prepare like he did when he was an up and comer as a result of he was a threatening welterweight when was an up-and-comer.”
