Colby
Covington is frequently shifting focus when it comes to
deciding his next potential opponent.
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Covington is seemingly not interested in a fight against
welterweight up-and-comer Ian Garry,
who has been calling “Chaos” out for a considerable amount of time
now. The former interim champ has instead called out Belal
Muhammad, who is expected to be next in line for a 170-pound
title shot.
Covington argued against Muhammad’s case for a title shot, citing
“Remember the Name’s” inactivity since a lopsided decision win over
Gilbert
Burns in May 2023.
“I would like [to fight] Belal; he’s talked a lot of smack…He’s out
there saying that I only got my title shot cause of [Dana] White
privilege… Now he’s squatting on his ranking, guys; he should have
to come out and fight,” Covington recently told Submission Radio. “I think we should fight; I think
that’s the fight that should be next. He doesn’t deserve a title
fight, guys. How long’s he sat out? He sat out for over a year.
He’s squatting on his rankings, that’s not right.”
Meanwhile, Charles
Oliveira has admittedly been contemplating a move up to
welterweight after his unanimous decision loss against lightweight
contender Arman
Tsarukyan at UFC
300 last month. Covington is also willing to welcome the former
lightweight champ to the welterweight division.
“I want legacy fights. I think a guy like Charles
Oliveira makes sense. He was out there saying the other day
that he wants to come up to welterweight. I’m the king of Brazil,
man. Everybody knows I run that f—-ing country. ll the women love
me, all the men of Brazil want to be like me. So, Charles
Oliveira, you want this fight? You want to really come up to
welterweight? Let’s see if you’re about it or if you’re just
talking.”
The chances of Covington fighting Muhammad appear unlikely, as
“Remember the Name” is currently undefeated in 10 UFC outings since
2019 and is insistent on fighting for the title next. Meanwhile,
Covington is 2-3 in his last five, which includes three failed gold
bids.