Colby Covington sees loads of huge fights forward when he returns to motion.
December will mark a 12 months since Covington’s most up-to-date battle, a loss to then-welterweight champion Leon Edwards in the principle occasion of UFC 296. Since then, Covington has been comparatively quiet, although he has spent a lot of 2024 campaigning for President Donald Trump. With Trump as soon as once more having been elected to workplace, Covington is free to deal with his personal profession.
And he already has just a few names in thoughts, together with high welterweight contender Jack Della Maddalena.
“We’ve been speaking about this battle with Jack Della Maddalena,” Covington advised Submission Radio (transcription through Denis Shkuratov). “I feel it makes loads of sense. He acquired a giant win in my hometown in Miami final time he was out right here so he has slightly little bit of a reputation out right here. He’s undefeated. He’s hungry. He’s fearless. He’s an thrilling fighter.
“I feel that’s a battle that the followers could be intrigued with. I feel it’s a high-level battle. It’s a high contender battle that establishes who’s the following contender for the belt.”
Della Maddalena is likely one of the hottest names at 170 kilos, with seven straight wins to kick off his UFC profession. Total, he has gained 17 straight fights after starting his professional profession 0-2. This previous March, the Australian slugger defeated one-time UFC title challenger defeated one-time UFC title challenger Gilbert Burns by third-round knockout and he at the moment stands at No. 4 within the MMA Combating World Rankings.
Whereas Covington is raring to climb again up the charts, he’s additionally entertaining grudge matches. One fighter who Covington has gone forwards and backwards with within the media is light-weight contender Paddy Pimblett. If Pimblett needs to leap up in weight, Covington is raring to slap him again down.
“He’d by no means battle once more,” Covington mentioned. “It’d be the final battle that he’d ever have within the Octagon. I might beat him foolish from pillar to publish. I’d beat him so dangerous it’d be one of many worst beatings in UFC historical past. I don’t suppose the athletic fee would have the ability to sanction a battle for him ever once more after the injury I might do to Paddy f*cking Pimblett. The man’s an absolute joke and it’s simply hilarious as a result of final time I noticed him on Combat Week, he’s strolling down, actually walked by me, like, thrice. Each time he places his head straight down, doesn’t make any eye contact, however now he needs to speak a giant sport. So Paddy, in the event you’re actually about that life, come see me. Come see the ‘King of Miami.’
“Name [UFC executive] Hunter [Campbell]. what? You most likely don’t even have the boss’s quantity. You most likely need to undergo, like, the matchmakers or one thing. Don’t fear, I’ll put in a name to the boss. We are able to get this battle going in the event you’re actually about that. And you realize what? Extra importantly, you don’t acquired to chop weight. I do know you’re a giant man. You’re larger than me anyhow. So come as much as welterweight, eat as a lot meals as you need, and convey your A-game and pack a lunch as a result of it’s going to be the final time you ever battle once more.”
Long run, Covington nonetheless believes he can battle for UFC gold. Although Covington’s efficiency towards Edwards was forgettable, he was beforehand a part of two entertaining title fights with Kamaru Usman, and the urge to show himself towards the most effective stays.
He’s desirous to battle undefeated welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov, who’s on the lookout for a dance accomplice now after UFC champion Belal Muhammad was compelled to withdraw from their UFC 310 important occasion assembly because of a toe an infection. If Rakhmonov finds a brand new opponent for the Dec. 7 card, whatever the outcome, Covington needs a chunk of him.
“I feel I can stroll him down and stress him and he’s not going to love my stress,” Covington mentioned of the Rakhmonov matchup. “He doesn’t do very effectively with southpaws. We noticed how he did with the busboy, Geoff Neal, that was a really aggressive battle. He hasn’t actually fought a high, high contender but. He’s fought some gatekeepers within the division, some some guys proper on the cusp of the highest 10, however he’s by no means fought a champion like me and a man who’s simply going to come back at him for for 5 straight rounds and simply stroll him down.
“So I feel I match up effectively with him. He stands very tall. I don’t know, I don’t see something particular with him. , he has some good submissions, he’s slick, however that’s when he can management the wrestling. He’s not going to manage the wrestling on me. I feel I can beat him fairly simply and I feel it’s a positive battle. It’s a battle that I need sooner or later whether or not he wins or loses in December.”
Watch Covington’s interview with Submission Radio beneath.
