Morning Report: Tyron Woodley, Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman bicker over next UFC welterweight title fight

MMAfighting.com

For most of the year, it looked like Tyron Woodley and Colby Covington were on a collision course for Woodley’s welterweight title, and when Covington won an interim title with a unanimous decision over Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225, a title fight with “The Chosen One” seemed all but assured. But then Covington had to nurse some injuries sustained in his win over dos Anjos and was unable to compete on the UFC’s timeline, so instead, Woodley defended his title against Darren Till, submitting the Englishman at UFC 228.

The win once again seemed to set up the inevitable clash between Woodley and Covington but Woodley has been recovering from hand surgery, and despite repeatedly saying he wanted to face Covington early next year, the UFC has yet to book the long-awaited title fight. Instead, UFC President Dana White has suggested that Woodley is unwilling to defend his title and that they may have to move on from Woodley, despite the champ having just defended his belt in September.

But despite White’s strong-arming, Woodley seems insistent on fighting Covington next and over the holiday, took aim at Covington for refusing to step in the cage with him.View image on Twitter

Tyron T-Wood Woodley✔@TWooodley

I asked my boss for one thing for Christmas! Didn’t see the bout agreement under my tree @ColbyCovMMA must have bitched out again! @ufc 4,502 4:38 AM – Dec 27, 2018 763 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy

Covington was quick to respond, saying that the UFC has never offered him a fight with Woodley, and that if Woodley agrees to fight Kamaru Usman instead of him, he is being a company “yes man” and “taking the easy way out”.View image on Twitter

Colby Covington✔@ColbyCovMMA

Stop lying @TWooodley. You know @ufc never sent me anything. If they did, Id sign it live on @TMZ before the ink went dry dummy. Tell the truth. You have no power and you’re being a yes man… AGAIN. Go ahead and take the easy way out. Unlike you Im a man of my word.1,518 6:21 AM – Dec 27, 2018 436 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy

Usman is far from an easy out for Woodley. Currently the second-ranked welterweight, Usman is also coming off a unanimous decision win over Rafael dos Anjos, and is currently riding a 13-fight winning streak, 9 of which were in the UFC. Ordinarily, that type of resume would put Usman front of the line for a title shot, but Covington has made a name for himself in recent years with controversial trash talk and big wins. He also had an interim title, but when he passed on the Woodley fight in September due to injury, the UFC stripped him of that belt, and that’s something Woodley takes as proof that “Chaos” doesn’t really want that smoke.

Tyron T-Wood Woodley✔@TWooodley

You are a bitch! You were suppose to fight me in Sept and let Till nearly get killed. You are the easy way out. And talked all that shit and bitching out. Quit trying to call shots I’m the king. Go kiss the boss’ ass so I can kick your ass and retired the non sense.Colby Covington✔@ColbyCovMMAStop lying @TWooodley. You know @ufc never sent me anything. If they did, Id sign it live on @TMZ before the ink went dry dummy. Tell the truth. You have no power and you’re being a yes man… AGAIN. Go ahead and take the easy way out. Unlike you Im a man of my word.4,206 7:53 AM – Dec 27, 2018 Twitter Ads info and privacy 835 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy

Never one to let someone else have the last word, Covington responded by doubling down on his “company man” barb, and then mocking Woodley for being unable to make any fight he has sought happen.View image on Twitter

Colby Covington✔@ColbyCovMMA

Last shot I called got me to the White House. What shots have you ever called junior? GSP? Nate? Nick? Bisping? Nope. You don’t call shit. You love to cry a river to the media. But the moment @ufc says jump, you say how high! You’re no King @twooodley. You’re just a Cuck.1,323 11:43 AM – Dec 27, 2018 338 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy

Covington actually has a point. During his reign, Woodley has sought fights with Georges St-Pierre, Nick Diaz, Nate Diaz, and Michael Bisping but has never even come close to having them happen. Unfortunately for Covington, the fight Woodley wants now is him and all signs are pointing to Woodley going 0 for 5 on wishlist fights. After Usman beat dos Anjos, Dana White said that he wanted to see “The Nigerian Nightmare” take on Woodley next, and earlier this week, the UFC President declared that Usman would be fighting for the welterweight belt at UFC 235, with or without Woodley.

And Usman says that’s how it should be. After all, Covington turned down a fight with Woodley in the fall and, according to Usman, has turned down a bout with him on five separate occasions.

KAMARU USMAN✔@USMAN84kg

Shut your bi&ch a$$ Up coward. You ran from me 5 different times and counting… #UFC228 was your shot and your bi&ch a$$ ran from that. Now go sit the F&ck down and watch grown men work @danawhite @AliAbdelaziz00 @seanshelby Colby Covington✔@ColbyCovMMAStop lying @TWooodley. You know @ufc never sent me anything. If they did, Id sign it live on @TMZ before the ink went dry dummy. Tell the truth. You have no power and you’re being a yes man… AGAIN. Go ahead and take the easy way out. Unlike you Im a man of my word.2,280 11:36 AM – Dec 27, 2018 Twitter Ads info and privacy 447 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy

Woodley only recently received doctor’s clearance to return to full training there will likely be an answer to all of this soon. Time is running short though as UFC 235 takes place on March 2.