Top Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters from
145 to 170 pounds all want a piece of champ Islam
Makhachev.
Per the
UFC on Wednesday, the headliner of UFC 296 on Dec. 16 will be
Leon
Edwards (21-3) against Colby
Covington (17-3). Backlash was immediate from the mixed martial
arts community as to Covington receiving the welterweight title
shot, as other contenders like Belal
Muhammad racked up mighty unbeaten streaks next to Colby’s one
win since 2021. No stranger to controversy, “Chaos” took it in
stride, already making plans for his future championship reign
after claiming the belt at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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Unsurprisingly, the former interim champion has no doubt he will
emerge victorious against Edwards. “Chaos” can already envision a
number of “mega-fights” waiting for him once he claims the
170-pound throne. One such matchup includes a showdown against
reigning lightweight titleholder Makhachev.
While calling out Makhachev for aspiring to move up to the
welterweight division, Covington said in a recent interview with
MMA reporter
James Lynch:
“I’m talking about Islam
Makhachev,” Covington remarked. “He’s fighting in a little
man’s weight class. He’s fighting little midgets, and he’s barely
beating midgets. I mean split decisions, split draws, it’s just
pathetic… He’s been talking, he’s been saying some things. He
wants to come up to a real man’s division and face a real man and
America’s champ. So that might present itself as well. I think
that’s a big super fight.”
Although a bout between the two grapplers could end up quite
thrilling, the likelihood of it materializing depends on many
factors, including the results of their upcoming matches. For
starters, Covington would to have to spring the perceived upset to
secure the welterweight strap from the reigning champ Edwards.
Additionally, Makhachev is gearing up to make his second title
defense in a rematch against Charles
Oliveira at UFC 294. Should both fighters emerge victorious in
their respective outings, perhaps fans could have the chance to
witness the two grappling greats go at it inside the Octagon.