It has been revealed by UFC President Dana White that Covington is no longer an interim champion, ending a title reign that began in June of 2018.
“No…he’s not,” said White in a Facebook Live interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “He’s not the interim champ.”
UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley is defending the welterweight gold against Kamaru Usman, who is ranked one spot behind Covington in the UFC Welterweight Division rankings, at UFC 235.
White says that a huge reason that Usman is getting the next title shot is because Covington did not take the opportunity to fight Woodley when it was offered to him.
“We offered the fight to Covington and Covington didn’t take the fight and I say it all the time…in 20 years I’ve been saying this and I don’t know how many more times I need to say this, this is a sport of opportunity and when opportunity is there…answer the door. Take it and if you don’t, it’s gonna take you longer to get back to that belt. I like the fight that Usman had (against Dos Anjos at the UFC Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale), Usman was ready to fight anybody and he’s getting the shot. Colby is now going to have to fight again and earn the spot to get back (in contention),” says White.
There has been no comment from Covington or one of his representatives at this time.
