“The election is over. Your schtick is up. Colby Covington, I want you next, boy!”
Those heated words are straight from the mouth of Michael Chiesa to UFC commentator Daniel Cormier, after smothering Neil Magny for 25 minutes at UFC Fight Island 8 in Dubai. Magny won just a single round, with all three judges scoring the bout a unanimous 49-46. But the score doesn’t reflect the grappling clinic Chiesa put on “The Haitian Sensation.” Chiesa seemed to Velcro himself to Magny’s body for five straight rounds, snuffing out his opponent’s reach advantage, and extinguishing any offensive strategy Magny may have had.
Rarely did Magny have an answer for Chiesa, a former UFC lightweight who’s been on a 4-0 tear since returning to the welterweight division. Prior to smothering Magny with relentless pressure and top control, Chiesa’s win streak consisted of Carlos Condit, Diego Sanchez, and Rafael dos Anjos. And yet it felt like this latest performance was the best “The Maverick” has looked upon moving up a weight class. It was also the first time Chiesa has ever gone a full five rounds in any of his professional fights.
“I knew he was a good test for me,” Chiesa said during his postfight interview. “If I wasn’t about to push through five rounds, I couldn’t talk about being a champion.”
Good enough to fight Colby?
Needless to say, Michael Chiesa believes that his performance Wednesday was worthy enough to call out No. 1 UFC welterweight contender Covington. Chiesa went into the Magny fight ranked eighth in the division, so there are plenty of interesting bouts for the matchmakers to piece together, should “The Maverick” not immediately get his wish. Perhaps the loser of the UFC Welterweight Championship bout happening next month between Gilbert Burns and defending champion Kamaru Usman. Or maybe Dana White and company feel like Chiesa’s dominating five-round performance was enough to catapult his name to the top of the welterweight contender rankings, increasing the Coloradan’s chances of contesting Covington sooner rather than later.
Love him or hate him, Colby Covington is an elite UFC welterweight. He proved to be too much trouble for former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley, following his title shot loss to Kamaru Usman. Covington has gone on record in saying that he blames the officiating for his loss, but that rifle shot of a right hand from Usman that broke Colby’s jaw probably didn’t do him any favors, either. Nevertheless, Covington’s abrasive personality makes him a magnet for call-outs, and fight fans will tune in with hopes to watch him lose, but rarely does the No. 1 welterweight contender oblige this. This just vindicates his persona as must-watch television.
What about BMF Masvidal?
Despite the call-out by Michael Chiesa, UFC President Dana White has previously expressed that Colby Covington’s next fight is likely to be none other than BMF title-holder and No. 4 UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal. It’s expected that the fight will take place some time this year, per Dana’s remarks. Masvidal hasn’t fought since July of 2020, where he stepped up on short notice to face Kamaru Usman for the belt at UFC 251. He lost via unanimous decision. Meanwhile, Covington last fought in September of 2020.
Combine these two big names with their dramatic backstory, and Chiesa will probably have to wait a bit on throwing down with Covington.
American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida used to house both Covington and Masvidal, where they trained as sparring partners and as friends. But pleasantries came to a halt when it became apparent that both UFC welterweight fighters were good enough to fight for the championship. Things went south, and Covington departed American Top Team for nearby MMA Masters in Miami.
The fireworks show that is the UFC Welterweight Division is primed to detonate, with Chiesa, Covington, Masvidal, Gilbert Burns and Leon Edwards all logjammed at the top. It’s anybody’s guess who will be the champion by year’s end.
