Colby Covington gives update on possible fight with Demian Maia

Earlier this week, rising UFC welterweight Colby Covington made a clever callout of recent welterweight title challenger Demian Maia. On Wednesday’s edition of BJ Penn Radio, Covington gave an update on this fight, telling host Kinch that he hopes it happens at UFC 217, inside Madison Square Garden, on November 4.

“I’m looking for November 4 in Madison Square Garden against Demian Maia,” he said. 

“I would love to fight at the UFC New York [card] in Madison Square Garden,” he said. “I’m looking around November. Hopefully that gives [Demian] Maia enough time to get his wounds healed. You know, I know he didn’t even really get in a fight with the champ. There was no punches thrown so he should be healthy and fresh and ready to go. What does he need to wait for? He’s already at the end of his career anyway. Why wait any longer?”

Covington then updated on this fight with Maia, saying he’d spoken to the UFC about it, and that they seemed interested.

“There’s been talk,” he said. “There’s a high possibility that it’s going to happen. We’re just waiting on him. The UFC likes the fight, they think the fight makes sense, and we’ll see if he accepts the challenge. Right now, he knows that even OJ Simpson’s gloves couldn’t protect him from me.”

Whatever happens, Covington just wants a big fight, and soon.

“I’ve earned my spot,” he said. “I beat Dong Hyun Kim, who’s only lost to Tyron Woodley and Carlos Condit and Demian Maia,” he said. “I deserve a big fight. I’m looking for Carlos Condit, I’m looking for Demian Maia, I’m looking for Stephen ‘Wondergirl’ Thompson, Robbie ‘not Ruthless anymore’ Lawler. That’s who I’m looking for. The big names. I don’t want to go backwards. I don’t want to fight guys that I already know I’m going to beat.”

“Let me get somebody who thinks they might have a chance against me. Then I can show you my real star power. I can show you what destiny is, I can show you what I’ve known since I was a little kid.” 

Who do you want to see Colby Covington fight next?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 8/10/2017.