Colby Covington says ceviche food poisoning kept him out of his Hype grappling match in Ecuador

Covington told The Ariel Helwani Show he was "throwing up all day Saturday" before the Quito card, calling it "probably the most difficult moment in my career".

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Wed 7 Oct, 19:42 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Colby Covington on The Ariel Helwani Show — Image: The Ariel Helwani Show

Colby Covington did not turn up for his co-headlining spot on Hype Fighting Championship's grappling card in Quito, Ecuador, and he says a plate of ceviche was to blame.

"I ate some ceviche and I got food poisoning," Covington told The Ariel Helwani Show. "I was throwing up all day Saturday. It was probably the most difficult moment in my career."

He also joked: "My mom's going to have to go from eating Wagyu to eating filet mignon now." And he insisted: "I've never pulled out of anything."

The card was at the Coliseo General Rumiñahui on Sunday 4 October. Juan Albarello took Covington's place against Mayton Perea, and the submission-only main event between Marlon Vera and Jose Aldo was declared a draw when time expired.

He is due to wrestle Khamzat Chimaev for an RAF title in Abu Dhabi on 14 November. On the same show, he said of the Chimaev match: "Chaos is unpredictable... If it needs to be a fight, I'm always willing to protect myself and defend myself."