574 Days Inactive but With Title Shot Secured, Colby Covington Gets Yet Another Accusation Laid Out on Him

Colby Covington does not deserve to fight for the title next. This seems to be the general sentiment of many in the MMA community after Dana White confirmed the fighter’s next shot at the title. To date, only Covington’s fellow fighters seem to have been peddling the narrative. But it looks like some veterans too share this sentiment. Not just questioning Covington’s title shot, but his entire trajectory.

At the main event of UFC 296, Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington is all set to square off against Welterweight champion Leon Edwards. The fighter has long been campaigning for the opportunity, calling out the champs on numerous occasions. And recently, the UFC granted his wish after confirming the title shot for the Vegas-held event. But before the American trades blows with his English rivals, it looks like he has to go through a seemingly never-ending series of accusations.

Josh Thompson accuses Colby Covington of facing fighters past their prime

On the recent episode of his podcast ‘Weighing In,’ Josh Thompson has put a question mark on Colby Covington’s resume. Talking to his co-host and veteran referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy, the former UFC lightweight accused ‘Chaos’ of fighting ‘guys who were on their way out’. Thus, accusing him of taking fights with fighters past their prime.

As a testimony to his claim, Thompson put forward the example of former UFC welterweight king and Covington’s rival, Robbie Lawler. Talking about ‘Ruthless,’ ‘The Punk’ said: “he was closer to 38, I think, at the time they fought him, somewhere around there. Yeah, 2019, so he was about 38 years old. Colby, being the younger guy and having great pace, whatever it was, Colby had his number and got him that night in a decision.”

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Questioning Covington’s legacy, Thompson further highlighted the fact that Colby Covington could not do the same with Kamaru Usman. Losing twice to the former 170 lb champion. For those unaware, Covington fought Robbie Lawler in the main event of UFC on ESPN 5. Known for fighting, just like his nickname, ruthlessly, Lawler is known as one of the 170 lb fighters of all time. But at the time of fighting Covington in 2019, Lawler was 38 and amidst a 4-fight losing streak. A fact that leads to many conclusions, including Thompson, discrediting ‘Chaos’s win over the former Strikeforce Middleweight Championship.

Despite triumphs over multiple former champions, there’s a question mark over Covington’s title shot

Apart from Robbie Lawler, Colby Covington holds wins over two other UFC champions, Tyron Woodley and Rafael dos Anjos. This is an astonishing feat few fighters in the history of the promotion can claim to boast of. However, many, including Thompson, discount these wins on the premise that these former champs were past their prime at the time Covington faced them.

Apart from these wins, Covington’s only win in his last five fights has been against his friend-turned-foe Jorge Masvidal. But once again, Masvidal was struggling through a losing streak with his match with the former NCAA, being his second last. This was the last time ‘Chaos’ was seen in action inside the Octagon, which has led many to question the legitimacy of the title shot- Josh Thompson being the latest entry to the long list of doubters.

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