Colby Covington sees himself not solely competing at 185 kilos, however beating the elite of the division.
In an interview with Submission Radio, the longtime welterweight mentioned his subsequent transfer, which might embrace a soar up in weight and a conflict with former middleweight champion Sean Strickland. Covington defined why he prefers a transfer to middleweight moderately than a drop to light-weight, and named Strickland as a beatable opponent when requested who he’d prefer to face in that division.
“The Sean Strickland struggle is at all times fascinating,” Covington stated. “He’s had his his issues to say about me previously. I don’t assume he’s something particular. He’s received a jab, he’s received a entrance kick, however apart from that you simply shut these these weapons down and he’s very restricted. He’s a cardio fighter. He’s only a cardio kickboxer, primarily. I don’t see any threats out of Sean Strickland and it’s an entertaining struggle that I would entertain sooner or later. We’ll see.”
Strickland’s dance card is at the moment full as he has an opportunity to regain the middleweight belt when he rematches Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312 on Feb. 8 in Sydney.
It’s not only a struggle with Strickland that has Covington contemplating a division change. “Chaos” has fought a who’s who of notable welterweights throughout his UFC run, capturing an interim title in 2018 and thrice difficult for undisputed gold. Despite the fact that he’d be smaller than the vast majority of the promotion’s middleweights, Covington believes he can observe within the footsteps of Strickland and Robert Whittaker, two former 170ers who turned champions at 185 kilos.
“Actually, ‘85 is intriguing,” Covington stated. “I believe it could be type of cool to go up there with the narrative like, ‘Oh, this man’s a small ‘70. He’s going to go as much as ‘85 and tackle a fair greater problem.’ So there’s a risk. I’m at all times searching for the largest and greatest fights, so we’ll see. I’m undecided, we’ll see what’s on the desk, who’s sizzling on the time. I’m simply at all times searching for the largest and greatest fights. So it doesn’t matter. Any weight class.”
“I do know these guys are lots slower,” Covington added. “That’s why guys that depart welterweight and so they go to middleweight have a lot success. These guys like Whittaker, who turned champion, a man like Sean Strickland, who turned a champion. They depart this welterweight the place these guys are quick, they’ve good cardio. These are the perfect athletes on the planet on this weight class. In order that they go up and so they have a lot success at middleweight as a result of the middleweights are unathletic. They’re gradual. So there’s something to be stated with that, what sort of coaching you’ll do. I undoubtedly wish to placed on some muscle, however I additionally wish to be environment friendly with the velocity and ensuring I’m actually fast twitch, able to pounce on these guys.”
Ought to Covington keep put in his division, it’s unclear who’s left for him to struggle, although he’s open to welcoming 155-pound veterans Paddy Pimblett and Michael Chandler to the burden class.
“There’s a few enjoyable choices,” Covington stated. “I don’t wish to make any callouts. I need the UFC and followers to determine who they need me to go subsequent. I believe there’s some intriguing fights on the market. I simply need the largest and greatest fights. Everyone is aware of I’m the marquee. That struggle that I confirmed up on two weeks’ discover with no coaching camp, have a look at what it finally ends up being. It finally ends up being the very best gate in North American historical past for a Struggle Night time, in order that’s what occurs when Colby Covington is on the marquee and he reveals up. He’s the largest star within the division. Colby Covington is the premier for the welterweight division.
“So I solely need the premier in greatest and greatest fights, so whoever that’s, I don’t know, I’m going to let Hunter Campbell determine that. … There’s a few guys on the market. Paddy Pimblett’s at all times an choice, he’s a giant identify and he’s been operating his mouth about me, so I’d prefer to settle that. Michael Chandler’s at all times a risk, he’s ran his mouth.”
