Colby Covington eyes 'exciting fighter' Jack Della Maddalena next

Colby Covington likes the idea of fighting Jack Della Maddalena next.

Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) says there’s been discussions for him to potentially face Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who’s unbeaten in the octagon.

The Aussie hasn’t competed since rallying to knock out Gilbert Burns at UFC 299 in March, and has since been recovering from complications due to arm surgery. It’s been a while since Covington fought as well, most recently falling short in his title fight against then champion Leon Edwards at UFC 296 last December.

“We’ve been talking about this fight with Jack Della Maddalena,” Covington told Submission Radio. “I think it makes a lot of sense. He got a big win in my hometown in Miami last time he was out here, so you know, he has a little bit of a name out here.

“He’s undefeated, he’s hungry, he’s fearless. He’s an exciting fighter, so I think that’s a fight that the fans would be intrigued with. I think it’s a high-level fight. It’s a top contender fight that establishes who’s the next contender for the belt.”

Ian Machado Garry (15-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) recently revealed that the UFC came to him with Covington’s name, and he immediately accepted. However, Covington insists he’s never been offered that fight.

“There is no contract,” Covington said. “If there was a contract, he’d be plastering it all over the internet and the whole world would see it. This fight has never been talked about. If there was a contract, he would be showing it. He would be putting it everywhere.

“He’s irrelevant. He hasn’t done anything to deserve a fight of this magnitude. The fight’s never been offered. I don’t know why he’s talking about that. I’ve been offered three other fights, they weren’t him. They didn’t have his name on it. There was no contract offered, and he’s still a cuck.”