Colby Covington is pulling no punches ahead of his Nov. 14 RAF cruiserweight crossover title defense against Khamzat Chimaev, flat-out declaring, “He can’t beat me in anything!” The war of words has been brewing for years, and Covington is ready to settle it on the mats at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
“He Can’t Beat Me In Anything”
Covington didn’t just stop at a general insult. He went all-in, telling MMA Junkie that Chimaev stands no chance in a wrestling match, a fight, or even a “looks competition because that dude is ugly as a dog.” Ouch. He’s not just talking trash; he’s making bold predictions about the main event. Covington claims Sean Strickland made Chimaev “butt-scooting” in six minutes, and he’s going to cut that time in half. “I’m going to have him on his back, butt-scooting in three minutes,” Covington said, picturing Chimaev “like a dirty dog who has diarrhea trying to scoot his bottom across the floor.” That’s some brutal imagery right there, making it clear there’s no love lost.
Calling Out the “Washed Up” Wins and Questionable Cardio
Chimaev might be unbeaten on the RAF mats, but Covington is far from impressed with that undefeated record. He dismisses Chimaev’s recent wins over Tyron Woodley and Robbie Lawler as taking on “guys that are over the hill, a lot of guys that are washed up, that don’t have the fight still left in.” He sees them as “guys on the other side of 40, and these are guys that are just coming to collect paychecks.” Covington, however, is clear on his mission: “I’m not coming to collect a paycheck. I’m coming to take Khamzat’s L, I’m coming to take his undefeated record, I’m coming to take his soul.” He wants to shut Chimaev up for good. Covington also hammered Chimaev on what he calls “cardio issues,” claiming Chimaev has “faded in a lot of fights” and citing Gilbert Burns and the Strickland fight as proof of him being a “quitter.” He’s planning to expose that “quitter” mentality in their six-minute wrestling match, a discipline Covington considers his “bread and butter.”
Covington’s Resume vs. Chimaev’s “Amateur” Defense
Covington’s confidence isn’t just hot air, either. He’s put together a seriously impressive resume at RAF, scoring wins against former UFC champions like Chris Weidman and Belal Muhammad, plus Arman Tsarukyan. When it comes to Chimaev, Covington sees nothing special defensively, calling his grappling exchanges “amateur.” He even pointed out that Gilbert Burns, a jiu-jitsu fighter, not a wrestler, took Chimaev down, which Covington found “pathetic.” From an offensive standpoint, Covington labeled Chimaev a “weight bully” who just uses size advantages over guys like Gilbert Burns and Tyron Woodley, both of whom typically fight at 170 pounds but had to compete at 200 against him.
This Nov. 14 showdown at Etihad Arena, streaming live on FOX Nation, isn’t just for the RAF cruiserweight crossover title. It’s for bragging rights, an undefeated record, and a chance to silence years of trash talk. You do not want to miss this one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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