Colby Covington has issued a response to the wave of criticism that followed his UFC on ESPN+ 36 main event victory over Tyron Woodley on Saturday.
Covington (16-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC), a former UFC welterweight title challenger and staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, took to social media Friday to address his critics.
“Nice try woke mob, but you can’t cancel Colby Covington Inc!!! 🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸 I speak for the Silent Majority and I’ll never back down. Have a problem snowflakes? Direct your complaints to the comment section below #AmericasChamp #PeoplesChamp #Trump2020 #MAGA #KeepAmericaGreat”
Criticism of Covington has long existed, but was amplified following comments made before and after his fight this past Saturday Saturday. During fight week, Covington called Tyron Woodley and the “Black Lives Matter” movement a “terrorist” organization
On the broadcast following his win, Covington was called by Trump. The speakerphone exchange was broadcast to the world as Trump congratulated his most outspoken UFC fighter-supporter.
After the call, Covington joined bitter rival UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman on the broadcast in a split-screen interview. After Usman cracked a sexual-innuendo-laced joke at his expense, Covington took a shot at Usman’s Nigerian ethnicity. Covington said that instead of getting a call from the president, Usman probably gets “smoke signals” from his “tribe.”
The comments caught the attention of various fighters in the MMA community online and were criticized heavily by UFC 253 fighters Israel Adesanya, Sijara Eubanks and others at Wednesday’s pre-fight media day.
MMA Junkie asked UFC president Dana White about Covington’s comments on Thursday at the UFC 253 pre-fight news conference.
“This is the 10th time you guys have asked me this,” White responded. “These guys all have their own causes, things – all their own beliefs. We don’t muzzle anybody here. We let everybody speak their mind. I don’t know what he said that was racist. I don’t know if I heard anything racist that he said. I don’t know.”
“Come on. I’m not going to play these games with you guys. Come on. If it’s racist? Yes. Of course (we don’t want that).”
Check out Covington’s post below:
