As the UFC interim welterweight champion Colby CovingtonĀ shouldĀ be the next man in line for undisputed welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. Unfortunately for Covington, the UFC had other plans.
When Covington wasn’t ready to battle Woodley at UFC 228 on September 8, the UFC elected to give the next title shot to undefeated Brit Darren Till. Covington, meanwhile, will be stripped of his interim belt the moment the first punch is thrown in this Woodley vs. Till title fight.
Speaking to MMAjunkie this week, Covington opened up on being deprived of the title shot he’s earned.
āWhy are they trying to rush a camp?ā Covington said (via Sherdog.com). āThis fight needs a build-up, man. It needs a 12-week promotional build-up. Let me get out there and show that I can promote, and I can market fights and sell fights. Because nobodyās selling fights like me. I know how to do that now. These other guys, they donāt know how to do that. I wanted the fight, but I didnāt want the date. There was no way I was going to be ready. Itās only been up for me. I donāt think about the negative in my life. I just think about the positives. Theyāre not stripping anything. I earned that belt. The only way you can take that belt is by beating me in the Octagon, and thereās not a man alive that can beat me. Whether itās āTyquilā Woodley or āTillsbury Doughboy,ā Iāll be ready for that No. 1 contender fight.ā
While Covington is understandably not happy, he’s hellbent on fighting the winner of Woodley and Till’s fight.
āI want this fight more than anything,ā Covington said. āI want this fight more than I want to breathe. Literally, thatās how badly I want this fight.ā
āIt sucks. (The UFC is) looking at the short-term goals. Woodley-Till, thatās not going to do over 100,000 (pay-per-view) buys. I donāt know why theyāre rushing to make that fight. Me and āTyquil,ā that was going to be a big money fight. That was going to be a draw. Thatās the fight I built. ā¦
āIt sucks, but it is what it is. Now, this time, Iām just hoping Tyron doesnāt (expletive) this up. Thatās all I can say to him, is Tyron, donāt (expletive) this up. I built this. You didnāt build this.ā
Colby Covington won the UFC interim welterweight belt with an impressive decision defeat of former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225 in June. He’s a strong 14-1 overall.
Do you think Colby Covington deserved the next shot at Tyron Woodley?
This article first appeared onĀ BJPENN.COMĀ on 8/9/2018.
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM