Colby Covington has long been known as a two-time challenger in the UFC, bringing a ferocious pace and relentless talk to every fight. This piece revisits his stance on weight classes, his claims about fighting at his natural weight, and how that ties into his ranking ambitions, all while comparing his approach to that of Islam Makhachev.
Covington asserts that he is a true warrior who competes at his natural weight because he believes that staying in a weight class that suits him best shows a fighter’s honesty and consistency. He contrasts this with Makhachev, arguing that the Russian fighter once increased his weight to gain an edge over opponents who are smaller, and he frames that as a form of cheating. Covington emphasizes that he does not alter his body to chase advantage and maintains that his performance should place him at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings based on his natural weight and proven results.
Covington’s comments come amid ongoing discussions about how weight management affects performance and perception in mixed martial arts. He maintains that competing at his natural weight is a marker of integrity and athletic discipline, and he believes this stance supports a claim to being regarded as the best fighter in the world by his own account.
On October 21, Makhachev delivered an early finish against Alex Volkanovski during the main event at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. The Russian contender secured a knockout in the first round and defended his title for the second time, bringing his record to 25 wins in 26 bouts. The performance underscored Makhachev’s continued dominance in the division and added another chapter to his title-running legacy.
Earlier, on February 12, 2023, Makhachev defeated Volkanovski by unanimous decision after five rounds at UFC 284. That bout marked Makhachev’s first successful title defense and affirmed his status as a leading figure in the weight class. The bout was noted for its tactical depth and the way both fighters pressed for control across multiple rounds, highlighting the evolving strategic landscape of the sport.
In the broader narrative around these competitors, there have been varied discussions about past allegations and controversies involving figures in the sport. Notably, Khabib Nurmagomedov faced public discourse related to doping allegations during his career, a topic that has periodically surfaced in conversations about athletes connected to the same teams and training camps.