UFC Titleholder's Statement: "It Was Immensely Satisfying to Witness His Bleeding and Suffering"
UFC Titleholder's Statement: "It Was Immensely Satisfying to Witness His Bleeding and Suffering"
In the UFC Tampa main event, previous interim welterweight champion Colby Covington endured a rough night, with current 170-pound titlist Belal Muhammad relishing the spectacle.
The bout between Covington and Joaquin Buckley was halted in the third round due to a severe cut on Covington's right eyelid, with blood streaming into his eye and Buckley delivering strong blows throughout the contest. A doctor stepped in, making an appropriate call.
Chael Sonnen, serving as Covington's corner, mentioned he was contemplating surrendering if the doctor hadn't intervened earlier.
Muhammad, who shares animosity with Covington, shared his thoughts on the fight with MMA Junkie on SiriusXM.
"Watching him bleed and suffer was such a thrill," Muhammad said, talking with MMA on SiriusXM. "I hoped the doctor would allow the fight to continue a bit longer, giving Covington more opportunities to make excuses. He was getting hit everywhere. He was losing in grappling, striking, kickboxing, and even the walkout, as he ripped his shirt before even reaching the Octagon, making him look foolish."
Covington entered the Octagon accompanied by WWE legend Hulk Hogan, who played his iconic entrance theme, Real American, as the audience in Amalie Arena buzzed in anticipation. Traditionally, Hogan would remove his T-shirt before matches, and Covington attempted to imitate that by partially ripping his shirt ahead of time to smooth out the disrobing process.
Unfortunately, the cuts were noticeable, making him appear more like a mugging survivor than a cool character. This became evident during the competition with Buckley.
Many in the MMA community share Muhammad's beliefs, suggesting that Covington's prime in the Octagon may have passed him by, with fans perceiving him as more persona than poise.
"When individuals realize he's not as exceptional as they once thought and that he belongs on a pedestal," Muhammad continued, "the new generation of fighters study his game, understanding his limits. He throws moderate punches, possibly pity-patting, hesitates to throw a significant shot, and resorts to push-and-grab tactics in efforts to take his opponent down. There are better athletes, smarter fighters now."
Previously, an up-and-coming fighter like Buckley might have struggled against Covington's wrestling and pace. In this instance, however, neither quality provided Buckley with much difficulty, as he managed to repel seven out of eight of Covington's takedown attempts.
Even when Covington managed to secure a top position in the battle, Buckley emerged unscathed.
"Now that one fighter has realized Covington doesn't have the chops to make it in the top five of the UFC," Muhammad said. "I don't think he could beat anyone in the UFC top 10. He now acknowledges that the game has moved past him, and he should consider new options. Perhaps a major fight against a prominent opponent is in store for him, but his career might not have much left to offer."
Whether Covington will make a quick comeback to the Octagon or simply retire, remains to be seen. With his 37th birthday approaching in February, the welterweight division is teeming with ambitious hopefuls aiming to ascend the UFC's weight class hierarchy.
We'd be deceiving ourselves if we didn't acknowledge that Covington's future isn't looking too promising.
In the UFC Tampa results, Belal Muhammad expressed joy at Colby Covington's struggles during their scheduled fight due to a severe eye injury. During the bout with Joaquin Buckley, Covington's eyelid was severely cut, causing blood to stream into his eye.
On SiriusXM, Muhammad mentioned his satisfaction at Covington's suffering and hoped the doctor would allow the fight to continue longer, giving Covington more chances to make excuses.
Muhammad and Covington have a history of animosity, and Muhammad, currently ranked in the UFC welterweight division, shares Covington's UFC Tampa results with MMA Junkie.