Skip to content

Usman, Covington get in heated exchange on UFC postfight show

Chris Unger / UFC / Getty

Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington got into a heated exchange on the UFC postfight show Saturday night following Covington's stoppage win over Tyron Woodley in Las Vegas.

Usman retained his title over Covington via fifth-round TKO last December at UFC 245. There was a lot of bad blood between the two in the lead-up, and it didn't go away after the contest.

"Marty Fakenewsman, you got so lucky last time," Covington said. "You know what happened two days before? That was the biggest, worst fight of my life. That was my worst night, and that was your best night.

"Wait till the next time I see you. There ain't gonna be no cheap shots. You're not gonna be able to call nut shots, you're not gonna call fake eye pokes and get 10 minutes of time out and get a fake stoppage. I'm coming for you again. You know who was winning that last fight. You're on borrowed time, motherf-----, this is my time. I'm getting my belt back."

Usman responded by telling Covington to "go wipe your mouth" after he was on a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. Covington is a Trump supporter and is usually seen wearing a MAGA hat. The former interim champ was a special guest at Trump's rally in Nevada earlier this week.

Covington called Usman soft for not finishing Woodley in their March 2019 fight, although Usman dominated Woodley to capture the 170-pound belt. Covington beat Woodley via fifth-round TKO due to a Woodley rib injury in Saturday's main event.

Covington downplayed his loss to Usman, calling it "the worst decision in the history of the sport." He called the champion "a joke" and "pathetic."

"I finished you," Usman reminded Covington.

"No you didn't," Covington responded. "I stood right up. ... I got right up and protested right away. That was a fake stoppage, fake ref, fake fight. Wait till I see you next time. You're dead. We got unfinished business. You better show up. I'm coming for you."

Covington suffered a jaw injury against Usman, who told his former opponent, "I broke your face." Covington said that wasn't true.

"You didn't break nothing," he said. "The only thing you broke was your own will. You broke your spirit. That's why you're running from me. ... You're on borrowed time. ... You're the boringest champion in the history of this company."

Usman, who's expected to defend his title against Gilbert Burns at UFC 256 in December, laughed after Covington said he has "dragon energy."

"He said dragon energy," Usman said. "Game of Thrones out here, huh?"

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox