Colby Covington: The King of Controversy, But What Does He Regret?
Colby Covington, the former interim UFC welterweight champion, has built a career on being one of the most polarizing figures in mixed martial arts. From his brash persona to his often-provocative comments, 'Chaos' has consistently pushed boundaries, making him a figure of both fascination and frustration for fans. But even the most outspoken individuals have their regrets. And for Covington, there's one particular instance that stands out.
Covington's transformation into a pro-wrestling style 'heel' in the MMA world began in 2017 after his victory over Demian Maia, where he launched a verbal assault against the Brazilian crowd. This move set the stage for a career defined by controversy. He has frequently targeted opponents and their families, with remarks about Leon Edwards' father and attacks on Kamaru Usman's heritage being prime examples.
But here's where it gets controversial...
Surprisingly, amidst all the trash talk, the one thing Covington admits to regretting involves his interactions with the longtime UFC color commentator, Joe Rogan.
The Rogan Revelation:
Back in 2018, Rogan warned Covington about the potential consequences of provoking Jon Jones, his former college roommate. In response, Covington threatened to slap Rogan. This incident occurred before Covington's interim title fight with Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225.
Later, Covington retracted his attack on Rogan and issued an informal apology.
"I live with no regrets. I don’t think I’ve said anything that’s crossed the line,” Covington initially stated. However, he then reflected on his disagreement with Rogan, admitting, “If I’ve said anything that’s wrong, probably going after Joe Rogan. I didn’t really mean to attack Joe Rogan. He’s gonna get a pass because I got a title fight and a lot of money to make."
He added, “If there’s anything I regret, there’s one thing, it’s probably going after Joe Rogan.” Covington further clarified his stance, mentioning his friend Cameron Hanes, who is friends with Rogan. He acknowledged that he "let my emotions get the best of me."
Covington's Latest Target:
Most recently, Covington has turned his attention to UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal. Covington is set to headline the Real American Freestyle (RAF) 5 card against Luke Rockhold, while Nickal will defend his light heavyweight title against Yoel Romero.
During the press conference for the event, Covington targeted Nickal with trash talk, bringing up his first UFC loss against Reinier de Ridder and labeling him as an unproven “bum.”
"Didn’t you get beat up by a Dutch kickboxer? I forgot, remember your cardio? You got beat up by a Dutch kickboxer, that’s right."
"Come on Bo, come on bro, have you ever been a main event? … You got broken by a Dutch kickboxer man, come on, dude. You’re a bum."
"We’re talking about big money here, not bums. We’re talking about Luke Rockhold, first ballot Hall of Famer. Not some unproven kid in the corner who’s never done anything," he added.
What do you think? Is Covington's regret genuine, or is it just another part of his act? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Does his trash talk enhance or detract from the sport?
