Colby Covington sets sights on Israel Adesanya

Former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington has turned his crosshairs to reigning UFC middleweight world champion Israel Adesanya.

Covington, who is coming off a lopsided unanimous decision win over his ex-best friend Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272 earlier this month, pronounced that he is ready to move up in weight if it means getting a shot at Adesanya’s gold-plated strap.

“I can definitely go up to 185 and fight Adesanya but I don’t know if he’s going to turn around like that. He doesn’t have a dance partner right now. So why can’t I fight Adesanya? He can’t stop my wrestling. I’ll pick him up and drop him on his f—ing head, Covington told Submission Radio.

“He’s a cardio kickboxer. They got enough cardio kickboxers in women’s classes around the US I could go join one of those as well but I decided to pick up hard grueling American wrestling. I don’t think Adesanya could stop my American wrestling and I don’t think he’s that good of a fighter.”

Adesanya, 32, is 22-1 as a professional mixed martial arts fighter and is renowned for his striking prowess. He challenged for the light heavyweight title in March 2021 against Jan Blachowicz where he was exposed for his lack of ground game en route to losing on points.

Despite the size difference, Covington is beyond confident that he would beat the middleweight champion stating that Adesanya is not a well-rounded mixed martial artist.

“I want to give the fans the biggest fight possible. I don’t cut weight to go to 170 so I’m not going to go up to 185 and make it a full-time home. But I’m waiting for the big fights to present themselves,” said Covington.

“The two biggest fights in my mind, go beat up Adesanya, the guy who just has cardio kickboxing, he’s not that good of a fighter, he’s not well-rounded, he can’t stop my American wrestling. I’ll melt that guy. He’ll a hundred percent melt under my pressure and my pace or fight Dustin [Poirier].”

—JM Siasat/JMB, GMA News