EXCLUSIVE | Colby Covington says he is “cut from the same cloth as Michael Jordan”

Originally, Colby Covington’s anticipated interim welterweight showdown with Rafael dos Anjos was expected to occur at UFC 224, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ultimately, however, this massive welterweight battle was moved to UFC 225, which goes down on June 9 in Chicago, Illinois.

It was initially speculated that this fight was moved due to concerns surrounding Covington’s safety. The American has, after all, alienated the entire country of Brazil with his recent comments, and has even received death threats from a “favela leader” in the country.

According to Covington, however, this is not why his interim title fight was moved from Brazil to the US. The real reason, he says, is that the UFC — and the United States government — wanted his title-winning defeat of dos Anjos to occur on American soil.

“It had nothing to do with security,” Covington said on the latest stacked episode of BJ Penn Radio. “The powers that be want me to make this glorious moment in American history happen on US soil. Those filthy animals in Brazil sure as hell didn’t deserve this moment.”

“It was the US brass, the UFC brass,” he continued. “Dana White knows what’s good for business, and he knows I’m good for business, so he wanted this glorious moment in UFC history to happen on US soil in Chicago.”

Covington then drew a comparison between himself and NBA legend Michael Jordan, who once graced the hardwood inside the very venue that hosts UFC 225.

“What better place [to fight] than the same arena that Michael Jordan used to play, the United Center,” Covington said. “That’s crazy cause I am cut from the same cloth as Michael Jordan. We have similar attributes. He’s a GOAT of his sport. I’m the GOAT of my sport, so it only makes sense for me to go dunk my nuts on RDA’s head just like Michael Jordan used to dunk on fools’ heads in the NBA.”

Do you think Colby Covington will win interim welterweight gold inside the United Center on June 9?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 5/4/2018.