Former UFC title challenger Colby Covington has made shocking allegations against Nigerian mixed martial artist Kamaru Usman, accusing him of cheating during their previous encounters.
Covington, who is set to face Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC Tampa this Saturday, made the accusations during a recent Twitch stream while answering fan questions about his most disliked opponent.
“Definitely ‘Marty Juiceman’ (Usman). Just because he’s a cheater and he’s a coward. He definitely cheated multiple times in our fights so I just can’t respect someone that cheats in a fight,” Covington said.
Covington, who has a history of trash-talking his opponents, claimed that he has never cheated in a fight and has always done things the right way. “I’ve never cheated. I’ve done everything the right way. I didn’t cut corners, didn’t ask for shortcuts, had to go the long way,” he said.
The 36-year-old American fought Usman twice, losing both encounters. Their first meeting at UFC 245 in December 2019 saw Usman stop Covington to retain the welterweight title, while their rematch at UFC 268 in November 2021 ended in a close decision victory for the Nigerian.
Covington’s accusations come as Usman is currently on a three-fight losing streak, including back-to-back losses to Leon Edwards. Usman recently declined an opportunity to face undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 on December 7, stating that the date was “too early” for his return.
Covington’s allegations have sparked controversy in the MMA community, with many fans and pundits calling for Usman to respond to the accusations. However, Usman has remained silent on the matter, and it remains to be seen how he will address Covington’s claims.
For Covington, the accusations are just another chapter in his long-standing feud with Usman. The two fighters have a history of bad blood, and Covington’s claims are likely to add fuel to the fire ahead of his return to the octagon this Saturday.
