Colby Covington has ignited a fresh feud in the UFC world.
The outspoken welterweight veteran made headlines at UFC 314 in Miami this past Saturday after a backstage confrontation with Paddy Pimblett. The two fighters traded barbs, with Covington questioning the caliber of Pimblett`s opponents, while Pimblett retorted by highlighting Covington`s recent losses.
Pimblett, who competed in the UFC 314 co-main event, delivered a dominant performance against Michael Chandler, securing a third-round TKO and improving his UFC record to 7-0.
Following the event, Pimblett labeled Covington as “irrelevant” in an interview with ESPN. Covington wasted no time responding through his YouTube channel, firing back at the rising lightweight.
“Paddy decided to run his mouth as I walked by, so I had to address him,” Covington stated. “I had to make it clear he`s a little b*tch. Let`s look at the combined losing streak of his last three opponents – it`s a staggering 13 losses in a row. He acts like he`s a big deal, a star, but he`s a nobody. He`s never headlined a major event, never achieved anything significant, never been a top contender. He`s just a scrub.”
Covington continued, “The only reason anyone pays attention to him is because he resembles Ellen DeGeneres and, frankly, because of his bowl haircut and English accent. That`s the sole reason people even look at him.”
While Covington`s calculation of Pimblett`s opponents` current losing streaks is accurate, it`s important to note the context at the time of their fights. Michael Chandler was on a two-fight losing streak when he faced Pimblett, Tony Ferguson had lost six consecutive bouts, and King Green was actually coming off a victory. Nevertheless, Covington`s core argument remains: Pimblett has faced recognizable names, but not necessarily fighters at their peak in recent times.
Interestingly, Covington neglected to mention that his own recent victories against Jorge Masvidal, Tyron Woodley, and Robbie Lawler were also against opponents on two-fight losing streaks when they fought him. Masvidal hasn`t won since 2019, and Woodley since 2018. Covington himself, a former interim welterweight champion, has suffered two consecutive losses and three in his last four fights. His last win was against Masvidal in March 2022.
Regardless of the statistical comparisons, Covington`s animosity towards Pimblett is evident. He made it clear that if “The Baddy” ever moves up to the welterweight division, Covington will be ready and waiting.
“Paddy Pimblett is a little b*tch,” Covington reiterated. “He needs to stop using my name to stay relevant. He`s clinging to my name because he`s accomplished nothing. He`ll never reach a title fight, let alone win a title. He`s an irrelevant bum.”
Covington concluded, “So when he stops drastically cutting weight and decides to compete in a real man`s weight class against real men, he can get his ass whooped. He needs to keep my name out of his mouth, or he`ll face the consequences.”
