Colby Covington says he is not going to face Belal Muhammad in Actual American Freestyle after their confrontation on the RAF 11 post-fight press convention. As an alternative, the previous UFC interim welterweight champion desires a second match with Arman Tsarukyan.
Covington and Muhammad had each competed on Saturday, July 18, at RAF 11 in Milwaukee. Covington beat Tsarukyan 5-3 to grow to be the inaugural RAF Cruiserweight Crossover champion, handing the UFC light-weight contender his first loss within the promotion and transferring Covington’s RAF file to 3-0. Muhammad beat Ben Askren 6-3 within the co-main occasion.
The 2 welterweights then had a heated change throughout the post-fight press convention, the place a potential matchup was mentioned. Video from the occasion exhibits Muhammad and the US-born wrestler clashing after the announcement, with safety stepping in.
However Covington stated in an interview with Submission Radio that he has determined to depart the Muhammad matchup behind.
Colby Covington vs Belal Muhammad match OFF
“I’ve made an government choice. You realize I’m a shareholder in RAF. We’re going to transfer away from the Belal matchup,” Covington stated. “First off, he’s on the mic on the post-fight press convention, he’s claiming to be a person of the individuals and be an excellent instance, and the subsequent second he stands up and throws a soccer kick at me and tries to assault me like a grimy animal. Like a delinquent, like a legal. It’s simply disgusting; there’s no professionalism on his aspect.”
Covington added that he believes he would end the competition shortly if it occurred, saying, “The corporate know I’ll beat him in 60 seconds or much less.” He then pivoted again to Tsarukyan: “Arman deserves the rematch.”
That decision is an fascinating one contemplating the American wrestler had simply crushed Tsarukyan in a good title match. The rating was degree by means of a lot of the competition earlier than the previous UFC interim champion pulled forward and managed the closing stretch, successful 5-3. Tsarukyan entered the primary occasion with a 7-0 RAF file, whereas Covington introduced a wrestling background that included Division I All-American honors at Oregon State.
A Covington-Muhammad RAF match had seemed like a pure subsequent transfer after their public confrontation. Their deliberate RAF contest had reportedly been linked to RAF 12 in Cleveland, however the RAF champ has now publicly eliminated himself from it.
For now, the US-born wrestler seems extra excited by a sequel with Tsarukyan than settling his newest rating with Muhammad. Whether or not RAF follows his most popular route stays to be seen, however the RAF champion has made one factor clear: the Belal matchup is now not a part of his plans.
