Claiming he provided to battle the unbeaten, Shavkat Rakhmonov on short-notice at UFC 310, Colby Covington — a former interim welterweight champion, claims a pairing with the ending ace could be greater than an “simple” battle for him if it was penned.
Covington, who nonetheless retains the quantity six rank within the welterweight division, has been sidelined since returning to the Octagon again in December of final yr in a title grudge battle with former gold holder, Leon Edwards.
And dropping his third defeat in an undisputed welterweight title battle, Clovis native, Covington claimed he provided to exchange an injury-striken Belal Muhammad and tackle Rakhmonov in a short-notice interim title affair at UFC 310 subsequent month.
Colby Covington claims he provided to battle Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310
“I used to be excited on the alternative to step in there,” Colby Covington informed Submission Radio about doubtlessly combating at UFC 310. “However you recognize, it seems to be like they’re going a unique route. They’re going to go together with the doubtlessly with the (Kamaru) Usman and ‘Sh*trat’ battle and you recognize good on them that that’s okay. You realize I’m proper there nonetheless. In any case you recognize I beat somebody I’m proper again within the dialog. So you recognize I might love that. You realize they may they know they will name me on every week’s discover and I’m stepping as much as the plate.”
And whereas claiming he was in talks to tackle the surging Australian favourite, Jack Della Maddalena as quickly because the opening quarter of subsequent yr, Colby Covington claimed he would doubtless provide the undefeated, Rakhmonov a very completely different puzzle to unravel in the event that they shared the Octagon subsequent.
“I believe I can stroll him (Shavkat Rakhmonov) down and stress him and he’s not going to love my stress,” Colby Covington defined. “He doesn’t do very effectively with southpaws. We noticed how he did with the busboy, Geoff Neal. In order that was a really aggressive battle. So, you recognize, he hasn’t actually fought. He hasn’t fought a high, high contender but. He, you recognize, he’s fought some gatekeepers within the division.”
“Some guys proper on the cusp of the highest ten. However he’s by no means fought a champion like me and a man who’s simply going to come back at him for 5 straight rounds and simply stroll him down. So I believe I match up effectively with him. He stands very tall. I don’t know, I don’t see something particular with him.”
“You realize, he has some good submissions. He’s slick, however that’s when he can management the wrestling. He’s not going to regulate the wrestling on me. So, you recognize, I believe I can beat him fairly simply. And I believe it’s a positive battle. And it’s a battle that I would like sooner or later. Whether or not he wins or loses, you recognize, in December.”