UFC’s Colby Covington pivots to Belal Muhammad, Khamzat Chimaev

If Ian Machado Garry isn’t subsequent, Colby Covington is wanting up within the UFC welterweight rankings.

Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) denied Garry’s claims that he was provided a matchup with the Irishman and insists that he’s the one involved that Garry (14-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) gained’t present up.

When requested whom he’d ideally wish to combat, three-time former title challenger Covington pointed to prime contender Belal Muhammad (23-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC), who is predicted to be welterweight champion Leon Edwards’ subsequent title challenger.

“Perhaps this child (Belal) Muhammad, who’s been speaking so much,” Covington stated on “The Rush” podcast. “He’s up there within the rankings above me. So, I believe if I beat that man, it will get me proper again to a title combat.

“I don’t know, anyone. I may combat Joe Schmo off the road, and I’m going to get the identical paycheck. It’s going to be a high-level combat. Each time I get on the mic I’m going to promote that sh*t to the moon.”

One other title that pursuits Covington is Khamzat Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who’s at present targeted on making a middleweight title run. Chimaev is coming off a slender resolution win over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and is slated to face Robert Whittaker at UFC on ABC 6 on June 22 in Saudi Arabia.

“In a five-round combat, I might be tremendous intrigued by that combat,” Covington stated of Chimaev. “I at all times advised them I need this man in a major occasion. I don’t assume he can final. His cardio doesn’t look that good. His final combat he fought Usman at 185 on one weeks’ discover, and I believed Usman gained the combat.

“He landed extra strikes. He got here out the primary spherical, he wrestled him, and he didn’t do any harm. The second and third rounds, he was simply coasting to a victory. I believe he’s going to get uncovered quickly. He doesn’t have good cardio, and he’s inferior to everyone thinks he’s.”