Colby Covington is continuing his one-man mission to irritate everybody in the sport this week and that included former UFC champion and current ONE FC Vice President Miesha Tate during an appearance on her radio show.
Things turned ugly when Tate questioned why Covington had referred to Robbie Lawler as “a legend”, but had badmouthed many of his other opponents
“It gets back to me,” Covington told Tate. “All the people say how (you say) negative thoughts about me, and how I’m this and that. I just think it’s very hypocritical, because I don’t think you’re a perfect person. You might have some skeletons in your closet, as well.”
Tate replied that she’s always been against trash-talking and that it wasn’t personal, but Covington wasn’t finished yet and continued to rip into the retired star, claiming that she had got famous by being beaten up by Ronda Rousey and having nude pictures leaked on the internet.
Covington was apparently also annoyed that Tate had called his manner of generating publicity “disgusting” and as such wasn’t fit to compete in ONE FC, but ‘Cupcake’ then pointed out that it was in fact her boss, Chatri Sityodtong who had said that.
“I don’t even know what to say right now,” Tate continued. “It’s kind of crazy that you would go on that level just because I have an opinion, that you as an American should have respect for the fact that at least I have the balls to say it to your face, and that’s my opinion, and I’m entitled to it. I did not put you down as a person. You put me down as a person.”
Covington tried to insinuate it was tate who had started their beef, at which point Tate’s co-host Ryan McKinnell waded into the argument to defend Tate.
“You realize that that’s part of her job description right? She’s transitioned to being an analyst to give her thoughts on the sport,” McKinnell said. “You are a part of the sport. You make headlines for controversy, and you also made headlines for the exciting fights you put on like you did Saturday. It’s not a personal vendetta against Colby Covington.”
That didn’t change Covington’s mind though and instead insisted that he hadn’t come on to “sugarcoat things” and said, “I came on to give you the best ratings you are ever going to get.”
“Like the best ratings that UFC on ESPN (5) got, which was the lowest-rated UFC on ESPN ever?” McKinnell retorted.
Needless to say no bridges were mended during the remainder of the interview, with Covington branding the two hosts as “jobbers” which McKinnell went on to ban the fighter from the show.