Colby Covington clarifies: 'I'm not playing a character, I'm just being real'
LAS VEGAS – Colby Covington wants to clear up what he considers misconceptions about a pre-fight narrative going into UFC 245.
In the lead-up to Saturday’s fight with Kamaru Usman (15-1 MMA, 10-0 UFC) for the welterweight title, the polarizing Covington (15-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) conducted an interview with Candice Owens revealing how he decided to alter his personality to ensure he kept his UFC spot going into his fight with Demian Maia in October 2017.
Covington said he was told his expiring UFC contract wouldn’t be renewed, so he decided to become a much more vocal presence in the sport. Many took those comments as Covington admitted to playing a “character” or putting a “gimmick,” but he said that’s not accurate.
“I’m not playing a character, I’m just being real,” Covington told MMA Junkie at Thursday’s UFC 245 media day. “I think they don’t know what they’re talking about. I think I’m just turning it up to 11. I’m not afraid to speak my mind and speak what I really think inside. Before I was keeping those thoughts in because I was worried about how people would judge me, how the media would react, how the UFC would judge me for it. Now I don’t give a (expletive). I would care less what they think of me. At the end of the day I’m what’s good for this sport and I’m making money for this company.”
Covington did not deny the fact he likes to crank up all the bells and whistles when the cameras are in front of him, but he said he doesn’t speak anything he won’t truly stand behind. Whether anyone believes that or not is up to individual judgement, but his strategy has clearly proven effective.
Not only is Covington days away from challenging Usman for the title, but the matchup is the top bill on UFC 245 fight card that features three championship bouts from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
Will anything change if Covington wins at UFC 245 and accomplishes the goal he set out for himself? He said to not count on it.
“I’m just going to be myself always,” Covington said. “I can’t say if I’m going to do one thing or not, I’m just going to be real. That’s what I’ve always been, is real. Maybe I’ll turn down some of the post-fight antics a little bit, but this is the entertainment show-business for a reason and I’m here to put on a show for the fans. It’s not just when you fight. You’ve got to entertain them year-round and that’s why the fans love me so much.”
If Covington is the one being accused of putting on an “act,” he said he wonders what that means for Usman. The champion has said time and again in the days leading up to UFC 245 that he’s extremely comfortable and confident going into this fight, but Covington said he senses something entirely different.
“That’s definitely an act,” Covington said. “He’s shaking in his boots right now. He knows when he loses to me on Saturday night he’s literally going to become irrelevant. Let’s talk about the only time he’s been relevant: When he attaches his name to my coattails. The only time people have ever cares about him or talked about him is when he puts out a video or tweet about me. This Saturday I’m going to detach him from my coattails and no one is ever going to care about him anymore.”