Colby Covington says he threw his identify within the hat to battle Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310.
Rakhmonov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) was scheduled to problem welterweight champion Belal Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) within the Dec. 7 headliner at T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas, however Muhammad withdrew on account of a bone an infection in his foot.
Former multiple-time title challenger Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) revealed that he provided to step in vs. Rakhmonov, however the UFC was engaged on one thing else.
“I provided. I advised the UFC that I used to be prepared to step as much as the plate,” Covington advised Submission Radio. “I might love to save lots of the present and placed on a superb present for the followers. They pay their hard-earned cash for giant, megafights. They want a megafight. That’s not a mega battle. They want somebody who’s going to place asses in seats and entertain individuals, so I used to be excited. I needed the battle, and I requested for it however I believe they produce other plans.”
Covington is assured he’d be a nasty matchup for unbeaten Rakhmonov, who boasts a 100% end fee.
“I can stroll him down and strain him, and he’s not going to love my strain,” Covington mentioned. “He doesn’t do very properly with southpaws. We noticed how he did with the busboy, Geoff Neal. That was a really aggressive battle. He hasn’t fought a high, high contender but. He’s fought some gatekeepers of the division, some guys on the cusp of the highest 10, however he’s by no means fought a champion like me – a man who’s going to come back at him for 5 straight rounds and simply stroll him down.
“I match up properly. He stands very tall. I don’t see something particular with him. He has some good submissions. He’s slick, however that’s when he can management the wrestling. He’s not going to manage the wrestling on me, so I believe I can beat him fairly simply, and I believe it’s a good battle, and it’s a battle that I need sooner or later whether or not he wins or loses in December.”
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