UFC 296’s Colby Covington still interested in future fight with ‘pathetic excuse of a human being’ Sean Strickland

Colby Covington has some bold fight ideas beyond Welterweight kingpin, Leon Edwards.

UFC 296 will see the return of “Chaos” in Las Vegas, Nevada, this weekend (Sat., Dec. 16, 2023). Covington — a two-time Welterweight title challenger — has been absent from action since his dominant unanimous decision win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272 in March 2022. He’ll have no easy task in front of him as he hopes to make the third time the charm in becoming an undisputed champion by dethroning Edwards in “Sin City” on Saturday night.

The proud American has already expressed interest in other divisional champions despite having yet to win a title of his own. Indeed, Covington has noted how a match up with Lightweight kingpin, Islam Makhachev, would be a dream pairing. However, at Middleweight, Sean Strickland is also on the “Chaos’” radar.

“He’s pretending to be everything he wishes I was,” Covington told CODE Sports. “I’d love to slap Sean Strickland around. He’s just a pathetic excuse of a human being, the guy has literally no fricking IQ. The guy’s so f—king stupid. The things he says, he needs to get his mouth wired shut and I’m the guy to do it. The UFC knows I’m the one that can end these guys that hate the company and they hate the world, so I would love to fight Sean Strickland.”

Before Covington and Strickland can think about a potential “Champion vs. Champion” tilt, they’ll need to win their next outings. While Covington deals with Edwards, Strickland makes his first title defense as the 185-pound champion when he battles Dricus Du Plessis in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at UFC 297 next month (Sat., Jan 20, 2023).

Why not?

Poll

Does a Strickland vs. Covington matchup interest you?

• Yes
• No

vote view results

• 57%

  Yes

  (383 votes)

• 42%

  No

  (288 votes)

671 votes total Vote Now

LIVE! Watch UFC 296 PPV On ESPN+ Here!

TWO TITLES UP FOR GRABS! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns home to Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., Dec. 16, 2023, for its final pay-per-view (PPV) event of the year. In the ESPN+-streamed PPV main event, reigning Welterweight roost-ruler, Leon Edwards, will lock horns with former 170-pound interim kingpin, Colby Covington. In UFC 296’s co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja will put his Flyweight title on the line against Brandon Royval, who earned a rematch with “The Cannibal” after winning three consecutive bouts. UFC 296 will also feature the returns of Ian Garry, Paddy Pimblett, Shavkat Rakhmonov and so much more!

Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching action!

• STREAM UFC 296

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 296 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET (simulcast on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. ET), before the pay-per-view (PPV) main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 296: “Edwards vs. Covington” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.