Colby Covington saw his name and career explode in 2017, riding the wave of a big five fight winning streak that placed him at #3 in the UFC's Welterweight division.
After disposing of Demian Maia, Covington is now focused on former training partner Tyron Woodley. Covington and the current UFC Welterweight Champion formerly trained together at American Top Team, but Covington told Fightful's James Lynch that despite the connection in camps, he wants the championship.
"You have the people that like you and the people that don't like you. I think a lot of the people do understand it and get it. Tyron Woodley is (with) Duke Roufus. He used to be at ATT early in his career, but he trains in St. Louis and with Duke Roufus. A lot of people at ATT, they get what I'm doing. I'm in this to be the best and have the belt. I don't care about Tyron Woodley. Whoever has the belt, that's who I want to fight," said Covington.
As Woodley revealed to Fightful earlier in the month, he underwent shoulder surgery on December 19. However, Covington told us that the UFC is trying to book the two for spots as coaches on an upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter. Covington isn't sure that Woodley will take the chance, though.
"There's some truth to it. UFC and (UFC President) Dana White were trying to make it happen. Spice up the season, give some elements people haven't seen before. They want it to happen, but the ball's in Tyron Woodley's corner. Is he going to accept? Is he going to sign on the dotted line, or is he going to keep faking it? His stories are so mixed up. One second he's saying .. 'I'd fight him with one hurt shoulder,' the next thing he does, UFC offers Tyron Woodley Colby Covington for UFC 219 on December 30 and all of a sudden Tyron has to get shoulder surgery. The guy is a fake and he doesn't want to tell anyone the truth about what really happened when I used to whoop his ass in the gym at American Top Team. He's just trying to duck me and we'll see if he signs on the dotted line," Covington said.
If you had to ask Covington, he couldn't give a straight answer on whether or not the fight will actually take place.
"My gut feeling? It's really split because I know he's going to drag teeth as long as he can to not want to fight me because he knows I'm the worst stylistic matchup for him," he said. "Either way, I'm going to be at the top of the mountain and knock them off all one by one. Mark my words."
Many of Covington's comments have been chalked up to mind games, which he says have worked on Woodley dating back five years.
"I know I'm in his head. I knew I was in his head five years ago when we first trained together. He was crying off the mat, all pouty and shit, complaining to the coaches 'get Colby off me, get me a different training partner.' I'm up on his shoulder steps. He feels the pressure, the pressure that comes with saying my name and having to fight me. 8 weeks of TV of the Ultimate Fighter? (He'll) be a mentally broken guy before we even fight," said Covington.
In the full interview, Colby Covington (13-1) discusses his recent Twitter feuds and why he's only interested in fighting Tyron Woodley next, Impact Wrestling, Chael Sonnen, why Rafael Dos Anjos won't fight him and Star Wars spoilers.
