Listening to Dana White speak, it doesn’t sound as though the Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington rematch is in any doubt.
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has made it clear that he does not feel Colby Covington is worthy of another title shot. Never mind that Covington is the #1 contender, the fact remains he only has one victory since 2019, which was against a skidding Tyron Woodley. Between Usman’s stoppage victory over him at UFC 245 and Covington’s lack of inactivity, the Nigerian-born champion feels even Michael Chiesa is more deserving of a title shot despite Chiesa being ranked five spots beneath Covington at #6.
Covington has made his feelings on Usman’s narrative well known, bashing his nemesis for what he believes to be making excuses not to fight him again. The former interim champion even stated that it will take the UFC forcing Usman’s hand due to his unreasonable asking price to come to terms for a rematch.
Either Covington is guilty of being hyperbolic or the hand has already been forced without his knowledge because UFC President Dana White seemed stress-free when nonchalantly discussing what’s next for the welterweight title picture.
“Kamaru Usman is the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world,” White told Sports Illustrated. “We’re working on something for him, talking about September—but definitely in the fall. It will be against Colby Covington.”
Maybe Covington will catch a glimpse of this story and simmer down. That is until the brash welterweight finds something or someone else to target as he awaits his expected title shot.
Is Dana White making the right move by committing to Usman/Covington 2?
