WATCH: Colby Covington kisses Donald Trump chain walking in to UFC Tampa Fight Night

UFC superstar Colby Covington arrived at UFC Tampa donning a huge Donald Trump chain in order to show his support for the president.

WATCH: Colby Covington kisses Donald Trump chain walking in to UFC Tampa Fight Night

Colby Covington's unapologetic support for Donald Trump (via Imago/X)

Colby Covington is set to make his long-awaited return to the octagon at UFC Tampa after a year-long hiatus. The controversial fighter has had a busy 2024, playing an active role in Donald Trump‘s presidential campaign. Even after the election, Covington remains unwavering in his support for the newly elected president of the United States.

Ahead of the fight at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Colby Covington arrived dressed up top to bottom. Apart from that, what caught the attention of fans was the custom-made Donald Trump chain the fighter had. The ‘Chaos’ chose to kiss the chain on camera in order to show his endorsement of Trump.

At UFC Tampa, Covington is scheduled to fight exciting prospect Joaquin Buckley in a welterweight clash. Going into the fight, the former title contender has shown a different side to his normal trash-talking. It seems like, unlike his old opponents, Covington doesn’t have any beef with Buckley, which is a rare sight. 

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Following a loss in his last fight, Covington is eager to return to the octagon and secure a much-needed victory. A dominant performance could position him closer to another shot at the title. However, his pursuit of MMA success continues to coincide with his outspoken political affiliations.

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Why Colby Covington chose to praise Donald Trump publicly 

Unlike many popular UFC superstars, Colby Covington is known for his outspoken political views and strong support for Donald Trump. He frequently aligned himself with the new president, publicly endorsing him even before participating in Trump’s 2024 campaign. 

Colby Covington
Colby Covington (via Imago)

Covington often wore MAGA hats, praised Trump’s policies, and incorporated his political stance into his fighter persona. Due to his unfiltered opinions, Covington, as expected, faced a variety of criticism from people with different political views. However, this didn’t stop the fighter. In an interview, the American talked about his reasons for supporting Trump. 

It wasn’t a tough decision because I wanted to stand by what I believe in and all the principles I was founded upon through my whole life. Once I saw the narrative was being shoved down our throat as professional athletes one way and there wasn’t another side, I was sick of that. 

Colby Covington via Tucker Carlson

Covington’s close relationship with Trump included phone calls after fights and White House visits, making politics a significant part of his identity. He has also had the opportunity to fight in front of Trump in huge pay-per-view events in the past. After this latest election win, it won’t be surprising to see more of this pair in the future.