Morning Report: Colby Covington: Ian Machado Garry’s UFC 303 performance ‘showed how much of a bum he is’
Colby Covington wasn’t impressed with Ian Machado Garry’s latest victory.
UFC 303 was a big night for several fighters looking to make statements during International Fight Week, including Ireland’s rising undefeated welterweight contender. In a closely contested affair, “The Future” Garry was tasked with veteran striking sensation and recent newcomer Michael “Venom” Page. Tied up going into round three, Garry ultimately pulled off the unanimous decision win with his late back take to secure the round.
Garry, 26, had been jockeying for a potential showdown with Covington at this past Saturday’s event over Page. Unfortunately for him, the showdown with the one-time interim welterweight champion never came to fruition for one reason or another. Covington made his counter offers and bantered with Garry in recent months but according to UFC CEO Dana White never turned down the matchup as claimed by Garry. In the end, “Chaos” thought Page should have handed Garry his first career loss.
“Fighting cans from the Indian casino leagues. Big, big deal, you know,” Covington told Submission Radio. “Anybody can be 15-0 fighting 15 bums. Even Dana White said what he thought of the performance. He thought it was a draw. He didn’t think there should have been a winner. I feel bad for the fans. The fans got robbed of a pay-per-view opener. That’s supposed to be the opener of the pay-per-view so that was pathetic. That guy’s fighting the No. 14 guy in the world and he barely scrapes by. I think he lost the fight. It just shows how much of a bum he is.
“I thought he was a star. I thought Ian Garry was a big name. What happened? They had their co-main events fall through like six or seven times, there was a guy that was there not even on the card. Why couldn’t he get bumped up to co-main event? I guess that shows us what UFC thinks of the guy. The guy’s an absolute nobody and he’s a bum and he has no reason to talk about anything.”
Seemingly winding down in terms of activity, the 36-year-old Covington has fought once since March 2022, coming when he lost a unanimous decision to welterweight champion Leon Edwards this past December. The bout was Covington’s third shot at undisputed gold and made his 2-3 in his last five since 2019 (17-4 overall). He’s since been healing from a claimed broken foot.
The ship may have sailed on a Garry encounter for Covington, and despite his interest in a Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson fight, a former champion has now caught his attention. However, that fighter is a one-time lightweight king, as Charles Oliveira recently expressed interest in taking notable fights at 170 pounds. That’s where Covington believes he can perfectly come into play.
“Charles Oliveira, I’m the biggest fight you will get,” Covington said. “Former world champion, the king of Brazil, king of Miami, Donald Trump’s favorite fighter, what’s gonna be bigger for your legacy than coming to fight me? America’s champion, Donald Trump’s favorite fighter. You want the biggest fight, the ball is in your court, Charles. Let’s see if you’re a man of your word. You talked a big game and said you want to come up to 170. There’s nothing left for you at 155. All these other guys they’re trying to match you up with are complete nobodies. The biggest and best fight for Charles Oliveira’s legacy would be Colby Covington. So, let’s see if he’s about that life, but I don’t think he is. I think he’s gonna run away because he knows what would happen.”
Oliveira last fought at UFC 300 when he lost a close split decision to Arman Tsarukyan in April.
TOP STORIES
Options. Alex Pereira breaks down UFC 303 knockout; responds to Magomed Ankalaev, Jamahal Hill callouts
Size. Dana White explains why he’s hesitant to let Alex Pereira move to heavyweight
Dreams. Michael Chandler guarantees ‘no way’ Conor McGregor returns without fighting him
Praise. Teddy Atlas compares Alex Pereira to boxing greats Joe Louis and Mike Tyson after latest win
Speed. Payton Talbott disappointed UFC 303 19-second knockout came so quickly
Opportunity. Full lineup announced for Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8 premiere on Aug. 13
$$$. UFC 303 bonuses: Alex Pereira’s spectacular knockout among 6 bonus winners
LET’S WATCH
UFC 303 Post Show.
On To the Next One.
UFC 303 Post-Fight Scrums (Plus Chandler).
Muted.
One last time.
Sphere hype.
Full fight.
Doctor breakdown.
From RIZIN to UFC.
PFL Sioux Falls highlights.
Conor in Dublin.
Majima en route to Super RIZIN 3.
DEEP 120 Impact Trailer.
MORNING MUSIC
Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or find one of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re currently really into. I’ll pick the best one alongside my daily choice and give you a shoutout! You can also share in the comments below — those are just harder to sift through sometimes!
SOCIAL SCROLL DOWN
Fabulous.
--> Insert --> BadApe.gif --> <enter>
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 29, 2024
OHHHH NOOOOOO#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
ESPN+
https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/XJ0pR3SPYf
Can’t say I’m surprised.
cornermen just rushed the other corner and Karate Combat president @pres_awesome just choked him out cold with Sam Alvey #KC47 pic.twitter.com/O3MRXtOSJM
— MacMally (@MacMallyMMA) June 29, 2024
Bro.
Sam Alvey posted another angle of the Rafael Alves KO of James Vick. pic.twitter.com/pYs0hYCjVc
— Luke Thomas ️♀️ (@lthomasnews) June 29, 2024
Strike a pose.
Fight Pics That Go Hard#UFC303 pic.twitter.com/gepeFR2dLD
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) June 29, 2024
Lighter weight pioneer.
Congratulations on your MMA career, @KaratehottieMMA pic.twitter.com/PfdL8fEVom
— UFC (@ufc) June 30, 2024
Happy trails to the Karate Hottie!
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) June 30, 2024
One tough mother @KarateHottieMMA calling it a career after blazing an unbelievable trail inside the Octagon! #UFC303 pic.twitter.com/Ry0UB7LMHA
What a legacy! Wish you the best @karatehottiemma! https://t.co/9ThwhNaIMu pic.twitter.com/ndWhm5RjCG
— Shannon Knapp (@shanknapp) June 30, 2024
BMF seal of approval.
M’fin @Dynamitedan808 #50k pic.twitter.com/ZaM8oGS2GM
— Justin Gaethje (@Justin_Gaethje) June 30, 2024
Imagine this. You wake up and just go about your day, grab breakfast whatever. Later that day you’ve signed to fight THAT NIGHT in the co main event of ufc 303!!! Insane. Also no pressure on @Dynamitedan808 unbelievable. Big respect.
— michael (@bisping) June 30, 2024
There it is.
Pereira >>> Mcgregor #UFC303
— Vince Morales (@vandetta135) June 30, 2024
Alex Pereira KO’s Jiri Prochazka (2024)
— Fight Pics That Go Hard (@fightpicsgohard) June 30, 2024
@jeffbottari pic.twitter.com/5Vf8BsBwYF
reacting to poatan's head kick pic.twitter.com/SlQyFHrDDh
— Conner Burks (@connerburks) June 30, 2024
Careful what you wish for.
Looks like Ian forgot what happened during those training sessions. I don’t mind reminding him in the future. https://t.co/B4a7GesXp4
— Shavkat “Nomad” Rakhmonov (@Rakhmonov1994) June 30, 2024
Ian Garry won his 8th consecutive fight in The UFC.
— Andy Hickey MMA (@AndyHickeyMMA) June 30, 2024
This has set a new record for an Irish fighter surpassing Conor McGregor(7).
Ian will inevitability hold near every record for the nation.
Evolution or bust...
⚡️ ⚡️
— Jiri BJP Prochazka (@jiri_bjp) June 30, 2024
//\\ pic.twitter.com/LqbiaMQUb4
Pitbull.
Last night was the final fight on Andrei Arlovski’s UFC contract.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 30, 2024
He will not be re-signing with the promotion, I’m told, but he is still planning on fighting elsewhere.
Toe seems fine.
Art.
#UFC303 pic.twitter.com/6low9AGAaX
— (@GeezFX) June 30, 2024
Salty.
Your biggest win in UFC is losing to me #ufc303
— Movsar Evloev (@MovsarUFC) June 30, 2024
Absurd.
I'll just summarize the madness that it all was. I accept the fight with 2 weeks to fight with number 3 . change of category, 145,155, 165lbs . 3 hours before the event, they change my opponent, someone who had a 3 month camp without cutting weight.
— Diego Lopes (@Diegolopesmma) June 30, 2024
Love you all. Not every day you get to dare to do something great. @Diegolopesmma you’re a stud. Not many people would do what you did, especially what you went through the last 24 hours. I’m glad we got to elevate each other and make history. See you guys soon #4hours pic.twitter.com/gvB2DCYVDG
— Dan Ige (@Dynamitedan808) June 30, 2024
Scenes.
Referee got sucker punched for stopping a fight and he swung back pic.twitter.com/xT1g0wC2Vt
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) June 29, 2024
Diamond fam.
Had a great time working the desk this weekend! pic.twitter.com/iOeVir798w
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) June 30, 2024
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jennifer Maia (21-10-1) vs. Mayra Cantuária (10-5-1); Invicta FC 56, Aug. 9
Valesca Machado (13-4) vs. Yulia Ostroverkhova (9-2); Invicta FC 56, Aug. 9
Kai Kara-France (24-11) vs. Steve Erceg (12-2); UFC 305, Aug. 17
Junior Tafa (5-2) vs. Valter Walker (11-1); UFC 305, Aug. 17
Jack Jenkins (12-3) vs. Gavin Tucker (13-3); UFC 305, Aug. 17
Josh Culibao (11-3-1) vs. Ricardo Ramos (16-6); UFC 305, Aug. 17
Edmen Shahbazyan (13-4) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (36-17); UFC Vegas 96, Aug. 24
Matt Schnell (16-8) vs. Alessandro Costa (14-4); UFC Vegas 97, Sept. 7
Benoit Saint-Denis (13-2) vs Renato Moicano (19-5-1); UFC Paris, Sept. 28
FINAL THOUGHTS
This is some tired stuff, man. Tired, tired, tired. I don’t even have much of a thought on Colby anymore.
How incredible is it to see PFL shamelessly make a 10-minute feature video of an inactive fighter from another promotion for 10K views though? Also, do yourself a favor and watch Michelle Waterson vs. Jessica Penne if you have never seen that all-time classic.
Thanks for reading!
POLL POSITION
Last Week’s Results:
Friday: 32% of 333 total votes answered “Top 10” when asked, “Where does a win over Israel Adesanya put Dricus du Plessis in the middleweight GOAT conversation?”
Thursday: 72% of 380 total votes answered “Yes” when asked, “Does Tom Aspinall have GOAT heavyweight potential?”
Wednesday: 40% of 418 total votes answered “Alex Pereira and Diego Lopes” when asked, “Who wins this weekend?” Pereira defeated Jiri Prochazka via second-round knockout at 0:13 in UFC 303’s main event. Lopes defeated Dan Ige (originally Brian Ortega) via unanimous decision (29-28 All) in UFC 303’s co-main event.
Tuesday: 45% of 519 total votes answered “No” when asked, “Is Jorge Masvidal a bigger fight for Conor McGregor than Michael Chandler?”
Monday: 52% of 427 total votes answered “No” when asked, “Will Robert Whittaker ever reclaim the UFC middleweight title?”
Today’s exit poll:
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