It’s become a three-man race at the top of the welterweight division, and it seems that UFC president Dana White has made up his mind on who’s next.
Speaking at the UFC 240 post-event news conference, White said Colby Covington will get the next shot at 170-pound champion Kamaru Usman if he beats Robbie Lawler on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 5.
“Covington is next in line, and he stepped up, he took this Lawler fight, and he’ll get the (title fight),” White said.
White and Covington have had their share of issues in the past after the UFC stripped Covington of his interim title earlier this year. Covington, who’d been standing his ground for a while waiting for a title shot, finally decided to take a fight vs. Lawler.
The other two at the top of the division are Jorge Masvidal, who’s coming off back-to-back brutal knockouts over Darren Till and Ben Askren, and Leon Edwards, who’s winning streak moved to eight with unanimous decision over Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on ESPN 4.
Both Masvidal and Edwards have stated their desire for a title shot next, as well.
If Covington gets the title shot, it would set up a much anticipated fight between Masvidal and Edwards, who don’t like each other. Edwards believes there’s unfinished business after their backstage altercation in March. He mentioned that he’s only willing to fight Kamaru Usman for the title or Masvidal next.
White likes the idea of the Masvidal vs. Edwards fight, too.
“Yeah, that’s definitely a good fight to make,” White said. “Question is, where do you do that fight and how much security are we going to have?
“Welterweight division is ridiculous right now – stacked with talent and stacked with unbelievable fights, impossibilities.”
