UFC 286 backup fighter Colby Covington claims he was "18 pounds overweight" on Thursday
Former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington recently discussed his role as the backup fighter for the main event of UFC 286. Covington, who is widely regarded as one of the top fighters in his weight class, was selected as part of a contingency plan in case any one of the headlining fighters was unable to compete.
In his interview with TheMacLife, Covington expressed his readiness to step in at a moment's notice and his commitment to staying in peak physical condition. The former two-time title challenger's professional demeanor and commitment to maintaining peak physical condition serve as a testament to his dedication to the sport and his desire to compete at the highest level.
'Chaos' stated:
"Hunter Campbell called me Tuesday late night and he's like, 'Hey, we need you to fly out to London Wednesday morning. Be the backup and just in case anybody gets hurt or something falls through.'"
He added:
"Just like the ultimate professional that I am you know, I showed up here on Thursday morning 18 pounds overweight."
Watch Colby Covington's entire conversation below (0:12 mins. onwards):
Colby Covington successfully made weight on Friday, confirming that he was fully prepared to step in if needed. Kamaru Usman and champion Leon Edwards were also able to meet the weight requirements.
Ariel Helwani claims Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman were aware of Colby Covington's status as the backup contender
Ariel Helwani has reported that both Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman, the two fighters scheduled to compete in the UFC 286 main event, were aware of Colby Covington being the backup fighter for the event.
According to Helwani, Edwards and Usman were not surprised by 'Chaos' being announced as the backup fighter. This would mean that both the champion and the challenger have prepared for the possibility of facing the former interim title holder.
The Canadian journalist tweeted:
"Covington's weigh in today may have been a surprise to the public, but I'm told both Edwards and Usman knew about it a while ago."
Covington's weigh in today may have been a surprise to the public, but I'm told both Edwards and Usman knew about it a while ago.