In the aftermath of UFC Tampa/UFC on ESPN 63, Colby Covington walked away from the Octagon covered in blood and bruises. The fight was ‘Chaos’s return to action after a heartbreaking loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 296 a year ago. That was his third attempt at the coveted undisputed UFC gold but he lost a unanimous decision. Against Joaquin Buckley, the American wrestler was determined to bounce back but fate had other plans. A brutal cut over his right eye sealed his fate in the third round, leaving him no choice but to accept the doctor calling off the fight.

But if you ask Covington, this wasn’t a legitimate loss. In a post-fight interview he stated, “I’ve had way worse in fights than a little cut over my eye, so it’s unfortunate that the doctor stopped the fight like that because if we’re in Vegas, I know the fight gets to keep going.” Yet, while Covington stayed defiant, the MMA world was less forgiving. Among the voices dissecting his defeat, former ‘champ-champ’ Daniel Cormier stood out as he handed the polarizing UFC star a warning about what comes next!

Colby Covington receives a grim warning for the future from Daniel Cormier  

Daniel Cormier, never one to hold back, shared his thoughts on Colby Covington’s future in a video posted to his Instagram. With a measured tone, Cormier painted a grim picture of what lies ahead as he stated, “How does Colby handle that? Right? When it’s not going good anymore. How does he handle when everybody, right, that had to watch him win and him talk to him in the way that he did and have to respect him because he was winning. How does he handle all those people now coming for his head? They’re all gonna come for him, and they can because Colby has come for them.”

Covington’s brash persona, often a mix of cringe-worthy antics and sharp-tongued trash talk, made him a polarizing figure. Fans tuned in, either to cheer or jeer, while fighters watched from the sidelines, waiting for their shot. Now, after his defeat, Cormier questioned, “But how does Colby Covington, the competitor, handle the flip side? Guys, that’s a gimmick, and I’m not here to sh– on Colby Covington. I’m really not. I want you guys’ opinion as to what happens now.”

The UFC veteran and commentator’s commentary took a philosophical turn, reflecting on the sport’s brutal nature. Why? He pointed out, “My mother taught me don’t dance on a man’s grave whenever he’s down and out. Sounds like these dudes are all dancing on Colby Covington’s grave”

Covington’s antics over the years ensured that he was as disliked as he was successful. From mocking opponents to calling out entire divisions, he built a brand on conflict. Now, as the losses pile up, the same energy is seemingly being hurled back at him. But as Cormier asked in his video, will Covington adapt and rise again, or will his fall become a cautionary tale of how a gimmick can implode when the wins stop coming? According to another veteran of the sport, the former interim welterweight champion’s struggles began long before he even stepped into the Octagon against Joaquin Buckley!

Covington “doesn’t look like the same person” since leaving ATT according to Josh Thomson

When Colby Covington left American Top Team (ATT) in 2020, it was more than a gym split. According to Josh Thomson, it was a seismic shift that shook his career trajectory. Speaking on the ‘Weighing In’ podcast, Thomson confessed, “Since he’s left American Top Team, he doesn’t look like the same person. After half of the first round, he was taking deep breaths. I don’t want to say he was winded. He was having a hard time catching his second wind or breaking that first wind.”

Covington’s move to MMA Masters came after fiery disputes with ex-teammates Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier. But has the switch cost him more than just high-level sparring partners? Thomson stated, “I’m seeing a fighter who is having a hard time setting a pace that he’s not able to do inside the cage against world-class fighters because he doesn’t have world-class fighters to train with anymore.”

At 36, Covington is at a crossroads. Once celebrated for his relentless cardio and smothering pace, he now appears to be a shadow of his former self. The numbers also tell a grim tale. Covington has lost three of his last four bouts and is on the first two-fight losing streak of his career.  As such, Daniel Cormier’s warning is clear: the wolves are circling, and the bravado that once shielded Covington has left him vulnerable to the sport’s unforgiving nature. Will he adapt, evolve, and prove the critics wrong? Or will his story become a cautionary tale for the future? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!