Colby Covington Sparks Interest After Calling Out Israel Adesanya for 185-Pound Matchup

Controversial UFC fighter Colby Covington turns attention towards Israel Adesanya and a middleweight move after a rocky phase at welterweight.

Colby Covington Sparks Interest After Calling Out Israel Adesanya for 185-Pound Matchup

Colby Covington calls out Israel Adesanya (via MMA Mania)

Colby Covington’s fame in the UFC has come from both his performances inside the Octagon and his mic skills outside it. The American welterweight has often landed himself in controversy due to his comments and strong opinions. Most recently, the Clovis native has turned his attention toward former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

For the unversed, Covington has enjoyed an impressive run in the 170-pound rankings with notable wins over former champions Robbie Lawler and Tyron Woodley. Those victories established him as a consistent title contender and even led him to become the interim 170lbs champion.

However, losses in undisputed title fights against Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards slowed his momentum. Moreover, a doctor’s stoppage defeat last December to Joaquin Buckley has raised questions about his future at welterweight.

The bout with Buckley ended with Covington suffering a serious cut above the eye that led to a doctor’s stoppage. The injury sidelined him for nearly a year and added to a difficult period in his career. Covington recently returned to combat sports with a dominant win over former champion Luke Rockhold at RAF 05.

Following that performance, he discussed with Submission Radio why a move to middleweight appeals to him.

I know I can do well at middleweight. They may be bigger, they may hit harder but they’re a lot slower. I’m just as strong as them, I’m putting on a lot of size these days… I think someone like Israel Adesanya intrigues me… he’s someone I don’t really like. He’s talked a lot of sh*t about me in the past, let’s see if he can back it up… I would love the [Strickland] fight. He’s a cardio kickboxer, I’d beat him everywhere.

Colby Covington via Submission Radio

This was not the first time ‘Chaos’ had called out Adesanya during his UFC career. Covington repeatedly expressed interest in facing Adesanya during ‘The Last Stylebender’s dominant middleweight championship reign at 185 pounds. At the time, Adesanya dismissed the matchup because Covington had just lost two championship fights to Usman, who was then the 170-pound champion.

Covington has also directed his attention toward former middleweight champion Sean Strickland, another fighter known for controversy. Strickland has taken multiple shots at the welterweight contender in the past and has called out Covington for sporting a “fake bad guy persona” just to gain attention. However, Covington has not held back and has called ‘Tarzan’ an easy fight if they were to meet.

Covington’s UFC future appears increasingly uncertain as his place at welterweight comes under closer scrutiny. He recently criticized UFC CEO Dana White after his ranking position was publicly questioned. With options narrowing at 170 pounds, a move to 185lbs seems a realistic path forward. His high pace and wrestling ability could make him a notable presence in the current division.

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Colby Covington weighs in on Khamzat Chimaev’s dominance

Khamzat Chimaev rose quickly through the welterweight and middleweight divisions, earning multiple stoppage wins in short order. His wrestling base, combined with striking precision, has made him a difficult matchup for even seasoned UFC veterans. He recently dominated Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 in one of the most one-sided victories to earn the middleweight championship.

Colby Covington talks about Khamzat Chimaev
Colby Covington talks about Khamzat Chimaev (via GiveMeSport, Yahoo)

The fight against Du Plessis was so one-sided that it raised questions about what it will take to defeat Chimaev. Colby Covington has consistently been critical of Chimaev’s performances throughout his career, often scrutinizing his weaknesses.

Recently, he analyzed stylistic differences that could pose problems for Chimaev. His breakdown focused on pacing and takedown defense as key factors.

You’re gonna be able to stop his takedowns, you’re gonna be able to strike with him, get him tired in that department. I don’t know if I see anybody [beating Khamzat]. To beat him, you’re gonna have to wrestle into him and defensively have insane sprawls and insane down-blocking defense. Unless you threaten him with submissions or takedown defense, he’s gonna be walking through that division.

Colby Covington via Submission Radio

As Colby Covington eyes a move to middleweight, his goal is clearly a shot at Chimaev’s belt. Winning the title would represent a major milestone in his UFC career and validate his decision to change divisions. However, established contenders like Reinier De Ridder and Nassourdine Imavov are already waiting and are physically bigger. Covington will need to navigate these challenges carefully to secure a title fight.

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