Colby Covington says he was not offered a place on the UFC event planned at the White House to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and the birthday of U.S. president Donald Trump.
The former interim welterweight champion, who has frequently aligned himself with Trump publicly, said he expected to feature on the card but was not included in the promotion’s plans. His comments come after rival Bo Nickal claimed Covington had turned down a potential matchup between the pair.
“Not true, Hunter and UFC never entertained or offered that fight,” Covington said of the suggestion he declined a bout with Nickal, according to MMA Junkie.
“He’s a quitter. Why would UFC give me a quitter to fight?” Covington said, according to MMA Junkie. “I would’ve loved to take that fight at the White House. It’s an easy fight. He can’t strike, he can’t wrestle and hold me down. It would be an easy fight.”
Covington said he instead asked UFC matchmakers for several possible opponents, but was only presented with one potential option — a fight against the winner of the scheduled welterweight bout between Mike Malott and Gilbert Burns.
“I asked for multiple names. I left it in their court many times and said, ‘Hunter, I’ll fight any man alive … They didn’t have anybody. The only person they’ve offered me is the winner of Malott vs. Burns,’” he said.
“I accepted,. I said, ‘OK, I’ll wait until the end of the year to fight if that’s what you guys want and is in your plans. It’s your company, UFC. It’s your company, Hunter Campbell. Whatever you want. I listen to you. I’m the company man.’”
Malott is scheduled to face Burns on April 18 in Winnipeg, Canada, which could leave Covington waiting several months for his next appearance if he faces the winner. In the meantime, he is set to compete in a wrestling match against Dillon Danis at Real American Freestyle 07 in Tampa, Florida on March 28th. Covington said he had hoped to represent the United States on the planned White House card.
“I thought that I was a shoo-in for that spot,” Covington explained. “I’m the one that brought Trump into UFC back in 2018 when no one was supporting him … I thought I was going to get that call to represent the U.S. and get on that White House card. Unfortunately it wasn’t in their cards.”
