Ian Garry has been relentlessly trying to lure Colby Covington into fighting him next but it seems the former welterweight title contender just isn’t biting.
In a new interview Covington denies Garry’s claim that Covington is swerving the UFC’s attempts to get him to take the fight.
“Now we know that he’s a liar, because the UFC, Hunter (Campbell), Dana (White) they haven’t talked to me about this fight, this fight has not been presented, he’s just lying and trying to get clickbait,” Covington told ‘The Rush With Maxx Cosby’ podcast.
“Why do I have to go back in the rankings to fight him, he does nothing for me. I have a great contract with the UFC, I’m going to get paid good whoever I fight so I don’t need to fight him.”
Instead of the No.7 ranked Garry, the No.4 placed Covington suggests No.2 contender Belal Muhammad as a potential opponent that he’d be interested in facing.
“I love this company with all my heart they’ve changed my life, made me a multi-millionaire so I’m so thankful to them, so I’m going to let them decide but I don’t know, maybe this kid ‘Bayley Muhammad’ who’s been talking a lot.
“He’s up there in the rankings above me so I think if I beat that guy it gets me right back to a title fight.”
That being said, what Covington really wants is another shot at current champion Leon Edwards, who beat him comfortably by unanimous decision at UFC 296 in December.
“I want Leon [Edwards]. That’s who I want. I want to show the world that I am healthy, that I can beat anyone in the world. That I am the best welterweight on earth right now.”
Don’t rule out the possibility of Covington fighting Garry just yet though as a rematch with Edwards right now seems unlikely, with Muhammad likely to get that opportunity instead, more than likely at UFC 307 in Manchester, England in July.
The UFC will surely be keen to have Ireland’s Garry also compete on that card and there’s already heat behind the Covington match-up, but we’ll have to see what unfolds in the days and weeks ahead to know for sure what the promotion has in store for the two stars.
