UFC contender Colby Covington believes the promotion is making a significant error by scheduling Justin Gaethje to face Ilia Topuria on June 14. The UFC event, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States, is set to take place at the White House, with the lightweight title unification bout between champion Topuria and interim champion Gaethje headlining the card.
Many oddsmakers, fans, and analysts already anticipate Topuria defeating Gaethje, with some predicting a knockout that could lead to Gaethje’s retirement. Topuria himself has expressed confidence in securing a first-round knockout.
Colby Covington’s Concerns for Gaethje
In a recent interview, Colby Covington voiced his opinion that the UFC is making a mistake by featuring American fighters against dominant champions and top contenders from other nations during this significant American celebration. He feels that the matchups do not favor the American athletes.
Covington stated, “This is a celebration of the 250th birthday of the greatest country on God’s green earth, America. You would expect to see more American fighters on the card, from top to bottom. You would think there might be some favorable matchups for the Americans, but Justin Gaethje is being sent to the slaughter at the White House. I mean, Topuria is the best fighter on the planet right now. No one can dispute that. He’s just finishing these guys like Holloway, Volkanovski, and Oliveira. He’s on another level, and he’s in his prime, and Gaethje is on his way down… They did not put the best American fighters on the card.”
Covington also highlighted another questionable matchmaking decision, pointing to the pairing of a veteran Michael Chandler, who has lost his last three fights, against the explosive knockout artist Mauricio Ruffy on the same card.
English Translation
Colby Covington: Justin Gaethje is Being Sent to the Slaughter at the White House
A UFC contender believes the promotion is making a mistake by sending Justin Gaethje to fight Ilia Topuria on June 14.
The UFC Freedom 250 event, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, takes place on the South Lawn of the White House, and the lightweight title unification bout between champion Topuria and current and two-time interim champion Gaethje will headline the event.
Oddsmakers, most fans, and analysts already believe that Topuria will knock Gaethje out cold and compel him to retire. Topuria, on the other hand, has also predicted a Round 1 knockout.
Colby Covington believes Justin Gaethje is Being Sent to the Slaughter on June 14
During a recent interview, Colby Covington, who was not included in the White House event, shared his thoughts on the June 14 headlining bout and other fights. Covington believes the UFC is making a major mistake by pitting American fighters against prime champions and top contenders from other countries during the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations.
He said:
“It is the celebration of the 250th birthday of the greatest country on God’s green earth, America. You think there will be more American fighters on it from top to bottom. You think there would maybe be some favorable matches for the Americans, but Justin Gaethje is being sent to the slaughter at the White House. I mean, Topuria is the best fighter on the planet right now. No one can dispute that. He is just finishing these guys like Holloway, Volkanovski, and Oliveira. He is just on another level, and he is in his prime, and Gaethje is on his way down… They did not put the best American fighters on the card.”
Colby Covington also added that the UFC’s decision to match a 39-year-old Michael Chandler, currently on a three-fight losing skid, against a fresh and vicious knockout artist like Mauricio Ruffy on June 14 is yet another matchmaking blunder for the White House card.
