Islam Makhachev has responded strongly to Colby Covington’s recent remarks, dismissing the former welterweight title contender’s credibility and style.
In an interview with MatchTV, Makhachev addressed Covington’s trash talk and accusations about weight cutting, calling him “a man who can’t prove anything with his fights.”
The heated exchange stems from Covington’s criticism of Team Dagestan, including Makhachev and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, for allegedly cutting excessive weight. During UFC 296 Embedded last year, Covington said, “I don’t cut weight though, I’m a real fighter… I’m not a weight bully like Islam Makhachev who has to cut all that weight to have an advantage over midgets.”
When asked about these claims, Makhachev fired back. “First, let’s describe who Colby is. A man who can’t prove anything with his fights, but tries to be well known with his mouth. This is what he does,” said the reigning UFC lightweight king.
Makhachev also debunked Covington’s claim of not cutting weight. “Everyone cuts weight,” Makhachev explained. “My maximum weight when I train is 82-83 kilos. His comments don’t bother me because it’s coming from someone who can’t fight normally. When a person talks about me without being at my level, it doesn’t affect me.”
Covington Returns Against Buckley
Covington, who has been out of action since losing to Leon Edwards at UFC 296 last December, is set to return to the Octagon on December 14.
He’ll face Joaquin Buckley in a welterweight matchup at the UFC’s last event of 2024. Covington has spent much of his time recently supporting President-elect Donald Trump and maintaining his public persona, but this fight marks his first step back into competition.
Makhachev Defends Title at UFC 311
Meanwhile, Islam Makhachev is set to defend his lightweight belt on January 18 at UFC 311. He will face top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan in a highly anticipated matchup.
Makhachev has an impressive record of 15-1 in the UFC and is coming off a dominant fifth-round victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 earlier this year.
The UFC 311 card will also feature a bantamweight title fight between champion Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov, adding even more excitement to the event.
With both fighters continuing to make headlines, it’s clear the tension between Makhachev and Covington won’t fade anytime soon. Fans will be watching closely to see how both competitors perform in their upcoming bouts.
