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The most controversial member of American Top Team has parted ways with the renowned Florida-based camp.
UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington confirmed his departure from ATT in a recent interview with The Score. Covington was removed from the roster of the gym’s fighters on the ATT website earlier this week.
“I’m not a member of American Top Team in Coconut Creek,” Covington told The Score. “I’m a member of Colby Covington, Inc. I’m a member of Colby Covington business and Colby Covington team. This is my team now. You can direct your complaints at me.”
Covington recently had public disputes with ATT stablemates Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier, and in the past drew the ire of other training partners for his comments about Brazilians.
“Chaos” said he is still putting together his team, but there will still be some familiar faces in his camp.
“We’re still in the process of putting together a team for Colby Covington Incorporated,” he said. “I have some great coaches around me. I haven’t changed my coaches and training partners a lot – I still have a lot of the same training partners and coaches – but we’re just on our own time and doing our own thing. Not affiliated with ATT in any way, shape or form. It’s the best change that could every happen to me.”
While the former interim champion had issues with a couple fighters on the ATT roster, he had nothing but positive words for gym owner Dan Lambert.
“I respect Dan Lambert more than anything in the world – that guy will have my respect till the day I die,” Covington said. “I owe that guy everything. He gave me an opportunity nine years ago to come train at his gym full-time, have food, money and a place to live. He never left me out in the cold. He always gave me every opportunity possible. So I’m very thankful for my time there. He’s still a friend, he’s still a mentor, but I fulfilled my debts there.
“We went to the top together and won a world title, but I was also able to do something for him that no other fighter is going to do – and that’s take him to the White House. So we had a great relationship together. He did a lot for me and I’m just glad I was able to give him something back.”
Covington last competed at UFC 245, where he suffered a fifth-round technical knockout loss to Kamaru Usman in a welterweight title bout on Dec. 14. That defeat halted a seven-fight winning streak for Covington.