Khamzat Chimaev says Colby Covington pulled out of RAF Abu Dhabi because 'he's scared'
Chimaev, who now wrestles Chris Weidman on Saturday, said a future match with Covington is 'not my level' after seeing him choked out.
Khamzat Chimaev says Colby Covington pulled out of their Real American Freestyle main event in Abu Dhabi because he was scared.
Asked at the RAF Abu Dhabi press conference on Thursday what he thought about Covington pulling out so late, Chimaev said: "I knew he's not gonna come here." He added: "So he's scared... He talks too much, but real man, if you say something, you have to answer for that."
RAF announced on Monday that Covington was out injured and that Chris Weidman would step in. Chimaev and the former UFC middleweight champion wrestle for the inaugural RAF light heavyweight crossover title at the Etihad Arena on Saturday 14 November, and Weidman said at the same press conference that he got six days' notice.
Asked whether he wants to face Covington in the future, Chimaev said: "I seen the one small guy choke him out in 30 seconds... it's not my level, brother."
Covington was submitted by Raul Rosas Jr with a rear-naked choke in under 45 seconds at a Hype show in Rome earlier this month. Before the switch, Chimaev had told MMA Fighting he knew Covington was "not happy to come over there".
The card starts at 4pm UK and Irish time.
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