“I’m the Reason He Doesn’t Come Up to 170”- Colby Covington Blasts Khabib Nurmagomedov for Never Fighting at Welterweight

UFC Welterweight Colby Covington spoke to Submission Radio and chimed in on the current landscape of MMA as it stands. ‘Chaos’ Covington is a massive personality in the sport and he garners attention at every turn. What’s more, his fiery hot takes often make headlines, and his views on the lightweight champion will continue that trend.

The MMA world has been lauding Khabib Nurmagomedov, as he’s recently announced his retirement from the sport. Additionally, he’s fresh from a massive win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, where he submitted the interim champion in the second round. However. Covington isn’t quite on the Khabib retirement train, and the Oregon native went after the Russian fighter.

Colby Covington: “Khabib wants to beat up little midgets”

The former interim champion theorized that he was the reason that Khabib never elected to move up and fight at welterweight. Moreover, he also dived into a particular criticism that Khabib has faced all throughout his career regarding weight cutting.

“I think I’m the man, and I’m the reason he doesn’t come up to 170 in the first place. There’s a reason Khabib cuts all that weight. He cuts tons of weight. Everyone knows he walks around at like 190, he’s bigger than me. I’m a real man, I fight at my weight class. I’ll fight a man any size. Khabib’s looking for a way to…he want to beat up little midgets.”

The division one All American wrestler called upon Khabib to fight in the 170-pound weight class in order to cement his legacy. Colby Covington posited that Khabib’s unblemished 29-0 record wouldn’t stand had he fought at welterweight.

“That’s cool Khabib, you beat up a bunch of little guys and little midgets. But you’re not gonna fight in a real man’s weight class, fight at 170, at welterweight cause you know I’m the man. You know who’s here. You know you have no chance to keep that undefeated record, so there’s a reason he’s looking to cut a bunch of weight. I’ll fight any man alive.”

Despite Colby’s views, Khabib Nurmagomedov is arguably one of the best fighters the sport has ever seen. However, there is no denying that there remain some unanswered questions as to his effectiveness at 170 pounds.