We’ve all seen captivating villain origin stories in fiction, like the Joker from Batman or Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan. But have you ever witnessed a real-life villain origin story? If not, the journey of UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington might just leave you amazed. Once a promising babyface, Covington has fully embraced the role of the UFC’s supervillain. In a candid 2018 interview with MMA Weekly, he boldly declared, “I’m the supervillain of the whole UFC.”

From relentless trash-talking to publicly aligning himself with Donald Trump, Covington has undergone a dramatic transformation since 2017, earning his nickname ‘Chaos’. His antics have made him one of the most polarizing figures in the sport. But is this truly who he is? Interestingly, a 51-year-old UFC veteran seems to think so, offering a different perspective on the man behind the mask.

Marcus Davis vouches for Colby Covington

Colby Covington’s polarizing persona as the ‘bad guy’ of the UFC has been carefully crafted over the years, but is there more to the man behind the trash talk? In an interview with Carlo Perruzza, former MMA fighter Marcus Davis shed light on Covington’s true character, suggesting that behind the bravado lies a genuinely kind individual.

Davis stated, “Colby Covington, you know, relevant and still in MMA, and when I say relevant don’t get me wrong. I am a Colby Covington fan and people are probably not gonna like that. Love the way he fights—he is one of mine. I don’t usually watch much of the UFC anymore, but I’m watching tonight because he is on the card. He’s like anybody who knows him before all this, as far as meeting him in person, he is one of the nicest people you’ll meet. He’s just a good guy, just now so many people hate him because he has played that bad guy so well.”

Despite being widely known for his divisive antics—mocking Leon Edwards, provoking heavyweight Fabricio Werdum, and endorsing controversial political figures—Covington has also shown a more compassionate side. He established America’s Champions Foundation, which provides support to military veterans and first responders, an effort that contrasts sharply with his antagonistic public persona. However, it seems like the air has changed around ‘Chaos’ because he recently opened up about his persona before the UFC Tampa fight against Joaquin Buckley.

Colby Covington reveals the truth about his ‘villain’ persona

Colby Covington recently opened up about being misunderstood, claiming his controversial persona is a calculated move to sell fights and keep his UFC career alive. The welterweight star revealed that at one point, despite performing well, he was nearly cut from the promotion. This pivotal moment led him to adopt an alter ego inspired by former UFC fighter and trash-talking legend Chael Sonnen.

In embracing this “bad guy” image, Covington became one of the most polarizing figures in the sport, a move that worked wonders for his marketability but came at a cost. Despite fans understanding that his antics are often for the show, he has faced significant backlash. However, in an interview with Shakiel Mahjouri before UFC Tampa, Covington shed light on his real self.

The Clovis native shared, “[What people get wrong] is that I’m a mean person. People don’t know. They want to assume things, they want to jump to conclusions. They don’t know that yeah, of course I gotta turn myself up for show business, it is what it is. This is the name of the game. I’m trying to get paid, I’m trying to do good business for the UFC… I’m misunderstood and that’s okay.”

The question remains: Can Colby Covington redeem himself in the eyes of fans, or has the line between his alter ego and his authentic self blurred beyond recognition? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.