Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman criticise Colby Covington's 43-second loss
Colby Covington was choked out by bantamweight Raul Rosas Jr in a submission-only grappling match, days before he is due to wrestle Khamzat Chimaev in the RAF Abu Dhabi main event.
Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman have criticised Colby Covington after the former interim UFC champion was submitted in 43 seconds by Raul Rosas Jr in a grappling match.
Rosas finished Covington with a rear-naked choke in the submission-only bout at a Hype Fighting event in Italy on Tuesday. Rosas usually competes at 135 pounds and Covington at 170. The defeat comes shortly before Covington faces former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of RAF Abu Dhabi.
Cejudo, discussing the loss with Usman on their Pound 4 Pound podcast, pointed to Rosas taking Covington down with a double-leg before the choke and questioned his chances against Chimaev. Cejudo said: “Look at this motherf*cker, and he’s supposed to beat Khamzat Chimaev next f*cking week?” Usman, who beat Covington twice in UFC title fights, said he was surprised to see a fighter known for his wrestling handled so easily. He said Covington's name and the brand he has built did not excuse the result, while noting that wrestling and jiu-jitsu are different disciplines and that Rosas had caught him off guard.
Usman also said Covington had been unprepared for the pace of the exchange: “He was not ready for that level of intensity right away. For a guy that’s supposed to be intense, he was not ready for that level of intensity.” Cejudo said: “Colby Covington, you ain’t the king of shit no more.” He added that the loss hurt, but that people would forget it if Covington beat Chimaev. Cejudo suggested Covington might seek a rematch with Rosas, though he expected Rosas would submit him again.
Both men agreed Covington needs a strong showing against Chimaev to limit the damage to his reputation.
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