Colby Covington gets an earful from Belal Muhammad for running his mouth: "I beg you, let me see you in public"
Belal Muhammad fired back at Colby Covington for his recent comments. Muhammad captured the UFC welterweight title with an upset win over Leon Edwards at UFC 304. Covington criticized Muhammad's performance and launched personal attacks during an interview with Submission Radio.
Covington is one of the most brash and outspoken fighters in the UFC. While his promotional tactics and trash talk has helped him gain commercial success in the UFC, it has certainly made him a hated figure among fellow welterweight fighters. Muhammad, who is not a fan of Covington's promotional tactics, reacted to his remarks in a recent interview with MMA Junkie:
"He's a joke, right? Like, literally everything he says is a joke. What is he, 0-3 in title fights? All I needed was one time to do it. You'll never touch the gold. You'll never be who I am. Just keep talking, bro. You said keep that same energy when I see you. Please, I beg you let me see you. I beg you, let me see you in public."
He added:
"Unless he actually fights any of these other guys, he's not gonna get another shot. But I hope he goes on a good run, beat some of these contenders and figures out a way to fight me in the cage. But all you've got to do is find me at a steakhouse and you'll keep that same energy."
Check out Belal Muhammad's comments below (8:24):
Belal Muhammad thinks Kamaru Usman can fight him for title if Colby Covington could do it "off of a loss"
Belal Muhammad has expressed the desire to become the greatest welterweight in UFC history and intends to fight the biggest names of the division. Speaking further in the aforementioned interview with MMA Junkie, the 36-year-old said that he would like to defend the title against former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
Usman has lost both of his recent welterweight fights, against Leon Edwards, and hasn't competed in the division for more than a year. However, Muhammad said that the UFC can grant 'The Nigerian Nightmare' a title shot off a loss, similar to Colby Covington:
"Didn't Colby get a title fight off of two losses or off of a loss? I mean Kamaru, he's up there with GSP, right? So for my legacy and my name, he was always a guy that I always looked at and thought I could beat (him) before Leon did it." [9:25]
He added:
"It is fun because he is giving that smoke back and forth. I like build-ups like that. So if he ends up getting back in the mix or his name gets thrown at me, I would never turn it down."
While Covington has never fought for the title off a loss like Muhammad mentioned, two of his most recent title opportunities came off single wins.