Today, at the UFC’s final event of 2024 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, Colby Covington fell short in his comeback attempt, suffering a crushing defeat to rank #9 welterweight Joaquin Buckley. With hammer-like punches worthy of Thor, Buckley dominated the former interim champ in a one-sided clash. A deep gash above Covington’s right eye left his face soaked in blood, forcing the ringside doctor to call a stop to the fight at 4:42 of the third round. The loss marks ‘Chaos’s’ fourth defeat in his last six outings.

But who’s to blame for this second consecutive loss? Could it be HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema), as Colby Covington suggested before? Or is there another underlying reason for his decline? While these questions remain for ‘Chaos’ to answer, fighter-turned-analyst Josh Thomson may offer some valuable insights. On his podcast Weighing In, Thomson discussed Covington’s situation alongside co-host Keto George. Thompson attributed the former interim champion’s subpar performance to his expulsion from the prestigious American Top Team (ATT) gym.

The former 155fer stated, “I’m going to simply say that once you’ve trained at a prestigious gym like American Top Team, and then you find your way out of it, running your own camp in a smaller facility without many top-level people to train with—especially after leaving a gym with a plethora of world-class fighters—it’s noticeable. You saw it tonight. I don’t know if it’s the age, because I know he’s older, but let’s be honest, within two fights, he doesn’t look like the same person since he left American Top Team..”

Since 2012, Colby Covington had been a part of ATT, where elite fighters like Jorge Masvidal and Joanna Jędrzejczyk registered their names in MMA history. However, in 2020, the Clovis native severed ties with the gym following a bitter fallout with fellow ATT member and former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier. After an honorable eight-year run at ATT, ‘Chaos’ transitioned to Miami-based MMA Masters, training under veteran coaches Cesar Carneiro and Daniel Valverde.

Josh Thomson later broke down the fight for listeners, highlighting changes in Covington’s fighting style. He explained, “Those are the rounds where you’re trying to catch your second, sometimes third, wind. But not having the talent that he needs to help push his pace in training is what I feel like I’m seeing right now. I’m seeing a fighter who is having a hard time setting a pace inside the cage against world-class fighters because he doesn’t have world-class fighters to train with anymore.”

This isn’t the first time Covington’s strained relationships with gyms, coaches, and teammates have come to light. In the past, his bond with former friend Jorge Masvidal has been a topic of intense public discourse. ‘Gamebred’ stated the true reason behind Covington’s departure from the American Top Team (ATT), adding his disregard for his striking coaches and other ATT personnel multiple times. Let’s explore what Masvidal revealed about Covington’s conduct.

Jorge Masvidal sheds light on Colby Covington’s issues with ATT

There was a time when Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal were inseparable, often referred to as ‘brothers for life.’ Their close friendship once included ‘Chaos’, even staying at Masvidal’s home. It was widely believed that the former BMF played a pivotal role in Covington’s transition from collegiate wrestling to MMA. ‘Gamebred’ introduced him to the renowned American Top Team gym in South Florida, a move that would shape the former interim champion’s career in the sport. However, this once-solid bond eventually shattered, culminating in their heated clash at UFC 272.

However, now, the former BMF regrets his decision to bring Covington into his gym. What caused this rift? According to Jorge Masvidal, ‘Chaos’ refused to pay his striking coach, Paulino Hernandez, the 5% commission on fight purses that he had promised. Masvidal now reveals more shocking details in an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, where he claimed that Covington never paid Dan Lambert or the other ATT staff.

‘Gamebred’ stated, “This is when we cut ties, me and [Colby]. My striking coach trained him from his amateur days all the way to his Rafael dos Anjos fight. [Colby] did a handshake deal with him, 5% on your fights. If you make $500 or $500,000, this is what you’re gonna pay me. As soon as Colby made money, what did he do? Didn’t pay my coach.”

How do you view Colby Covington’s performance today against Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa? Do you think his gym change played a significant role, or is age, at 36, starting to catch up with him? Could this mark the beginning of the twilight of ‘Chaos’s’ career? Share your thoughts below.