Dana White remains to be making an attempt to justify his determination to fit Colby Covington in as the following title challenger for welterweight champion Leon Edwards.
Covington stunned everybody when he confirmed up on the UFC 286 weigh-ins to play back-up in case any points arose with the Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman essential occasion. His companies weren’t wanted, however White cited Colby’s willingness to return to London and make weight as considered one of a number of the explanation why “Chaos” deserved a title shot.
Even when Colby wasn’t one of the hated fighters on the UFC roster, lots of people would have nonetheless questioned the choice to offer him one other crack on the welterweight title. Leon Edwards himself flatly dismissed the concept of combating Covington subsequent, repeatedly saying he wouldn’t do it.
On the UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Sandhagen post-fight press convention, White addressed Edwards’ refusal to just accept his matchmaking.
“Hear, it’s not like I’m a giant ‘Oh Colby!’ Colby Covington deserves this shot on the title,” White stated. “I don’t blame Leon. Leon simply received by Usman twice and now he’s one other wrestler with a cool type that’s robust to take care of. Whenever you change into the champ, all people’s coming after you. All of the straight killers are coming after you for the following thrice a f—king 12 months.
“You’re confronted with nothing however the baddest dudes on the planet in your division. In the event you have a look at Usman and what he did? Usman ran by that division twice. Usman’s one of many biggest of all time. Leon simply beat him twice. You’re the person, Leon. You’re the man. And everybody’s coming after you, and it’s going to be Colby subsequent.”
However what about Covington’s year-long absence, or his seeming unwillingness to face different welterweight contenders like Khamzat Chimaev or Belal Muhammad? Does “Chaos” actually deserve a fourth title shot off a singular win over Jorge Masvidal since his final go on the belt? White didn’t deal with these questions however did give some perception into his thought course of.
“If Usman doesn’t exist, Colby’s been the champ now for some time,” Dana stated. “He’s been there endlessly. He lower the burden. He confirmed as much as fill in for that struggle and one million different the explanation why he deserves that struggle.”
This isn’t the primary time the UFC president has stated Colby would have been the undisputed welterweight champion if it weren’t for that darned Kamaru Usman. So he’s not Covington’s latest report (or lack thereof) and evaluating it to the data of different high UFC welterweights like Belal Muhammad when making his determination. “Chaos” exists in White’s thoughts as a perennial primary contender, so it makes good sense that he’d get the decision after Usman was toppled.
After all, it’s fairly straightforward to carry onto that notion as a high canine while you refuse to struggle anybody aside from the champion or stylistically advantageous opponents. However we will’t hate on Colby for gaming the system when it’s clearly understanding so nicely for him.
